The MS Diet

I have tried to synthesise the large volume of information I have researched over the past 2 years into a single page. This is it.

Reducing and even eliminating MS symptoms can be a reality. This page outlines how eating the right foods and can help significantly to improve Multiple Sclerosis symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. I call this my MS diet. It has been compiled with the help of a number of medical doctors and experts, diet consultants, and months of intensive research. It has helped to keep me living an almost normal life. I hope it will be a help to you too.

My Inspiration

Ultimately, my real inspiration has been to help myself. As selfish as it sounds, this has spurred me on to read countless books, speak with numerous experts and medical professionals and spend hours on the Internet. But now, my passion is to share what I have learnt, and help other women with MS.

I have customised a MS diet for me, and you should too. I have used bits and pieces from various sources to put together a MS diet I believe that works. Yes, I am learning more everyday and will be updating things as I go along.

Why Is Diet Important To Multiple Sclerosis?

Food has the power to heal as well as to hurt. As people affected by MS, we need to focus on food that heals. Everything we put into our mouths ends up in our cells, the power houses of the factory that is our bodies.

Certain foods will help the factory work more efficiently whereas other foods will slow down productivity and cause certain parts to malfunction. Such is the importance of the casual choices we make several times a day when we decide what to eat.

For people with MS, this decision is even more important than for the average person. There are certain foods that seem to cause an allergicreaction in the body and activate the immune system. An auto-immune attack follows which results in a variety of multiple sclerosis symptoms.

Before we discuss individual foods and how they impact our bodies, we must take a quick look at why the body reacts negatively towards certain food particles. Our stomach lining or gut is usually impermeable to food particles, preventing them from passing into the bloodstream. In a healthy gut, there are millions of microorganisms that help food to be properly digested and aid in keeping the stomach wall nice and healthy. However, it can become damaged through the use of substances such as antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, alcohol and tobacco.

“Certain foods provoke an immune response.”

Sugar and refined food products are also implicated in the progression of Multiple Sclerosis. It can also be caused when the healthy bacteria in our stomach is taken over by unhealthy bacteria. This condition is often referred to as Candida. Unfortunately most of us have a leaky gut now and then so we should all be carefully listening to our bodies to find out what foods make us feel vibrant with health or leave us feeling sluggish and bloated. A healthy MS diet will help minimise this as far as possible.

Leaky Gut Syndrome – Activation of the Immune System

Our damaged stomach lining is now permeable and starts allowing tiny particles of undigested food into the bloodstream. The immune system mistakes the food particles for invaders and is activated to attack. When you eat that particular food again, the immune system remembers it as an invader and calls in the troops to begin an attack. A food sensitivity is thus created. Researchers have found that immune cells are first activated in the blood stream before they cross the blood brain barrier and do their damage in the nervous system. Just one tiny particle of food can cause this reaction so it’s best to completely eliminate foods that you know could possibly lead to a relapse. That small bite of something ‘naughty’ just isn’t worth it!

Is This A Cure For MS?

There isn’t concreteevidence that diet is a “cure” for MS – we all know there is no cure yet. Many doctors are still not convinced diet helps at all to reduce MS symptoms and exacerbations [we’ll forgive them for that!]. The difficulty is that everyone reacts differently to having Multiple Sclerosis. Just as some people are allergic to certain foods while others are not, following an MS diet correctly is not a guarantee that it will work for you. But, you only have something to gain by following it – your body will love you for it! Increasing your overall health is going to benefit you in ways you haven’t yet imagined. It might not “cure” you, but you will see drastic results and that I can promise. I believe that everyone has a great chance of managing their MS successfully through diet. Once you understand that the stomach and MS are linked, it is clear that a healthy gut can reduce MS symptoms. Reason enough for you to give it a chance and stick to it for the long run, until a real cure is found.

Just before we get into the MS diet details, remember, I’m not a doctor so please ensure you consult with a medical professional to see whats right for you – I’m just someone who wants to share what has worked for me!

A. Foods To Avoid – Dangerous for your MS Diet

MS nutrition is a vital element of the defence of body again Multiple Sclerosis. Food that causes a “flare up” of symptoms in me, may not necessarily do the same to someone else. It is, however advisable to cut out all of the following foods for at least three months. This is enough time for your body to rid itself of all traces of these foods and for your stomach lining to heal itself. It should also be sufficient time for you to see an improvement in your symptoms.

Some people are able to reintroduce a few of these foods after this period without experiencing a serious MS relapse. However, most people find that their symptoms start returning again and that they need to permanently exclude these foods from their Multiple Sclerosis diet. Every person is different and you need to listen carefully to your body and the way it is responding to what you are eating.

The following list is about every day foods that you might eat as part of your normal diet. I have specifically excluded supplements as I will be going into that in a lot more detail separately, so this page is primarily about foods you should and shouldn’t eat as part of your Multiple Sclerosis diet.

It appears that not all of the following foods have the same negative impact on every person with Multiple Sclerosis – if you are aware of any others, please leave a comment below.

1. Dairy/Cow’s Milk Products

Foods To Avoid:

Researchers and nutritionists are becoming increasingly convinced that cow’s milk consumption has a role to play in the development and maintenance of MS. Researchers have found a high correlation between cow’s milk consumption and MS in many countries. Studies conducted in Germany and Canada have provided a possible reasons why this may be so. A number of cow’s milk proteins appear to be targeted by the immune cells of people with MS. The cow’s milk MS link is further reinforced by the finding that certain proteins in cow’s milk mimic part of the myelin sheath protein, the part of myelin thought to initiate the autoimmune reaction, so it really should be excluded from your MS diet.

MS Diet Alternatives:

Rice milk, almond milk (try to make sure that these products are 100% pure with no added oils, fats, flavour or other products), coconut milk and coconut cream. Soy products are also an option but eat them with caution because some people have a negative reaction to them.

2. Gluten and Wheat

Foods To Avoid:

Gluten is a protein found in the above foods. In many people with multiple sclerosis, this protein provokes the activation of the immune system, causing it to attack. It is interesting to note that wheat is a staple food in most of the countries in which MS frequently occurs. However, in many of the tropical countries, where Multiple Sclerosis is virtually unheard of, it is not a crop that is commonly grown.

3. Saturated Fats

Foods To Avoid:

Red meat, butter, margarine, chocolate, lard, cheese.

Dr. Roy Swank, probably the most famous Multiple Sclerosis diet researcher in the field had quite a bit to say about saturated fat. He was given the opportunity to spend 5 years researching MS and discovered that diet affected MS prognosis. His findings later became ‘The Swank Diet‘. One of the main proponents of his MS diet is eliminating saturated fat. His theory is that people with MS do not process saturated fats effectively which leads to embolisms of these fats forming in the bloodstream. This eventually leads to a breach the blood brain barrier, allowing activated immune cells to cross and do their damage. In Dr. Swank’s longitudinal study of MS nutrition, the participants who were disciplined about saturated fat consumption saw the most dramatic improvements in their conditions.

However, Dr Terry Wahls, author and physician who has recovered from secondary progressive Multiple Sclerosis, does allow some saturated fats through grass-fed meats and venison – but after reading The China Study by T Campbell, I am following a more vegetarian approach as I think this more healthy overall.

4. Heated Fats (in any form)

Foods To Avoid:

Most fats change their molecular structure when they are heated at high temperatures. In this form, they cannot be absorbed by the body and instead do damage to the cells. When cooking, use a little coconut oil that is not easily damaged by heat.

MS Diet Alternatives:

Roasted vegetables sprinkled with olive oil once they are out of the oven, raw nuts, dehydrated nuts (using a dehydrater), popcorn (air popped in a popcorn maker and then tossed with olive oil).

Note on Margarine: Even though this product is not technically a saturated fat, it is an exceptionally unhealthy fat to eat. Margarine contains trans-fatty acids which are not easily absorbed by the body. In fact, research shows that trans-fatty acids increase inflammation in the body. Margarine also contains artificial colouring agents, or it would look like bicycle grease. This is not something you want to be putting into your body!

5. Caffeinated Drinks

Foods To Avoid:

Coffee, cola chocolate, tea, energy drinks.

Researchers have found evidence which suggests that caffeine may be bad for Multiple Sclerosis. The hormone adenosine is important for regulating the immune system and halting inflammatory reactions. It seems that caffeine can block the adenosine receptor and thus lower the effectiveness of adenosine for suppressing inflammation.

MS Diet Alternatives:

Decaffeinated coffee (this does still contain a small amount of caffeine so don’t over do it), herbal teas such peppermint tea, camomile tea and fruit infused teas (as long as all the additives are natural and comply).

6. Refined Sugar

Foods To Avoid:

Cakes, biscuits, sweets, table sugar

The more refined sugar you consume, the more insulin your body has to produce to bring down your blood sugar levels. Prolonged levels of elevated insulin have been shown to contribute to inflammation. It also has a negative, deregulating effect on the immune system. Don’t even think about replacing sugar with artificial sweeteners. The sweetness of artificial sweeteners actually triggers the pancreas to secrete more insulin than regular table sugar does. Excessive sugar consumption is also one of the factors involved in candida overgrowth which leads to Leaky Gut Syndrome.

There are many gluten, dairy and sugar free biscuits and cakes that can be bought at most major supermarkets. However, I wouldn’t recommend eating these products too often. You will find that most of them contain heated fats and trans fats and other artificial products.

There is a lot of confusion around what foods are actually legumes – you might be very surprised by some of the items in this list above, I was! Generally, legumes are the fruits or seeds of anything that comes in a pod. Legumes are great sources of energy and protein, but some nutritionists caution their MS patients about legumes, while others recommend them. Legumes are controversial foods and have been known to cause a reaction in some people with MS. Watch your symptoms carefully after eating legumes and obviously cut them out if you feel they are affecting you negatively. I have been absolutely fine with legumes in my MS diet, but after doing additional research, I have decided to eliminate them entirely from what I eat, just to be on the safe side. Some MS’ers are fine, which is why I say “potentially avoid” legumes. Not all beans are legumes, and not all legumes are beans, so make sure you are eating what you think you are eating. Also, cocoa, castor bean, vanilla bean, coffee bean, jumping bean and red bean are all not legumes! Here is a more comprehensive list of legumes if you want to clarify further (but I have not yet verified this list yet!).

Regarding green beans specifically, one of the main reasons legumes should be avoided is that they contain lectins which prevent our bodies from absorbing certain nutrients. However, green beans contain mostly fibre and a very small amount of lectin. There are people, who avoid legumes, but still eat green beans and are able to handle them effectively. If you feel that legumes are still safe to eat, then try them for a while and see if they affect you at all. I personally avoid all legumes, just to be safe.

8. Poultry and Eggs

Foods To Potentially Avoid:

Chicken, turkey, duck, eggs.

I have put chicken and eggs on the potentially avoid list because some professionals advise against them because of their saturated fat content. Others are happy for their patients to have 1-2 servings a week. If you must have eggs, only eat the whites as the yolks contain a large amount of saturated fat. This is a case where you need to decide what works for your body. Test them out and if your symptoms worsen then exclude them. Personally, I have decided to give up chicken entirely (as it is also pro-inflammatory). However, I eat 1-2 eggs a week and feel fine on that.

MS Diet Alternatives:

Fish, nuts, quinoa and other vegetarian proteins (you’ll be surprised how much protein vegetables contain).

9. Citrus Fruit

Foods To Potentially Avoid:

Clementines, lemons, oranges, tangerines.

I have discovered for myself that I dont react well to citrus fruits – they directly affect my MS symptoms. This is common with some MS’ers, so if thats you, its best to avoid them entirely.

MS Diet Alternatives:

Any other fruit.

B. Foods To Embrace – A New Way Of Eating

After reading about all the foods that could be harming you, I’m sure you are thinking, ‘Well, what can I eat then?’. The fabulous news is that there are so many delicious and satisfying foods that will leave you feeling so good that you will wonder why you didn’t start eating this way sooner.

Excluding all of the above foods from your diet will take a complete overhaul of your current lifestyle, meal plans and shopping list. It really is an all or nothing commitment if you want to get to the point where you are symptom-free.

MS Diet Essential Nutrients

The main aim of this way of eating is to get as many nutrients as you can from a variety of food sources. It is also to consume foods that have an anti-inflammatory effect on your body. All the foods mentioned below will help to calm the inflammation associated with MS Symptoms. Supplements are great but don’t work half as well as getting what you need from food.

Dr. Terry Wahls, as mentioned before (a medical doctor with MS) has seen a remarkable improvement in her symptoms with a daily dose of three platefuls of fruit and vegetables (9 cups) that deliver specific nutrients to the body. She believes there are key minerals and vitamins that are capable of treating Multiple Sclerosis. These need to be delivered consistently and in highquantities.

But what are the most important nutrients for people with MS? The most vital nutrients needed to help improve your MS diet are listed below:

Vitamin A

Vitamin B12

Vitamin C

Vitamin D3

Vitamin E

Vitamin K

Magnesium

Omega 3, 6 and 9 essential fatty acids

Zinc

Targeting these nutrients is important, but it’s not always easy to figure out how to include them in your diet. For this reason, I’ve put together recipes specifically targeting these nutrients – I hope they make it much easier for you to focus on getting them into your diet.

The following ‘way of eating’ is the result of much research and conversations with professional doctors and nutritionists. The success stories that I have come across have confirmed many of the diet prescriptions given to me. Mary-Ann Shearer, a well known nutritionist, has witnessed countless miracles of people who have literally been on their last legs with disease and have been restored to full health through eating nutritious, unprocessed foods. My MS diet is also largely based on findings by Dr Roy Swank as well as Dr Terry Wahls [The Wahls Foundation], who I have mentioned already.

“Avoid junk food at all costs.”

You don’t have to be a neuro-scientist to figure out that that if the body gets what it needs, it functions perfectly and can recover from any set back. Basically, you need a diet that is high in raw fruit and vegetables and supplies all the necessary nutrients. Refined junk foods must be avoided at all costs as they will rob the body of nutrients. These are the foods to ENJOY:

1. Fruit

Fruit has been referred to by many as the most perfect food. Raw fruit gives the body exactly what it needs to function at its best. Fruit has a stabilising effect on blood sugar levels. This should reduce or even eradicate cravings for refined sugar. Try to eat ‘in-season’ fruit whenever you can. It will taste much more delicious and have a greater amount of nutrients. See the chart on seasonal fruit below. My favourites are mango, strawberries, grapes and cherries. If I could have a fruit salad with those ingredients every any of the year, I would!

Nutrients and Healing activity

Try to eat as many brightly coloured fruits as you can. The brighter or deeper the colour, the more nutrients and antioxidants the fruit will have. Antioxidants are vitally important as they terminate harmful free radicals which can give rise to disease. It is especially important that people with MS consume as many antioxidants as possible. Some important antioxidants are betacarotene and vitamins A,C and E.

Servings per day: at least 5 but as many as you want!

Serving ideas: fruit salad, smoothie, extracted raw juice, freeze fruit to keep it from going bad and then use it in a smoothie (useful with fruit such as raspberries and strawberries that don’t keep for too long).

2. Green vegetables

Green vegetables are high in vital nutrients and contain high amounts of chlorophyll, and sulphur. They are considered the main contingent of the MS Diet.

Nutrients and Healing Activity

Green vegetables are rich in vitamins B, A, C, K and minerals. Kale has the most nutrition per calorie of any plant. Broccoli is high in fibre and is potently packed with vitamin C. It also contains potassium, iron and vitamin K. Spinach is essential for blood clotting and bone healing. It is also known to decrease inflammation in the body and is a good source of iron. One cup of spinach provides nearly twice the amount of vitamin K you need daily. Green vegetables also keep the immune system healthy and functioning properly. These green veggies are true superfoods and it is essential that you consume them on a daily basis.

Servings per day: 3 cups of green vegetables (cup = 250ml).

I know this seems like a huge amount but you can start small and build it up. I put a cup of spinach in my morning smoothie and then have another cup of greens at lunchtime. For dinner I usually have another cup of greens such as broccoli and courgette.

Nutrients and healing activity

Full of antioxidants, they are essential foods to consume on a daily basis. Eating the variety presented above will give you another huge dose of the vitamins needed to fight Multiple Sclerosis symptoms. These include, beta-carotene, flavonoids, lycopene, potassium, and vitamin C.

Nutrients and healing activity

These vegetables contain nutrients such as beta-glucans and lignans that provide powerful immune boosting activity. They are also rich in sulfur which is important for overall brain functioning and toxin removal. Sulfur is required for taurine synthesis. Taurine is essential for proper functioning of the cardiovascular system, our muscles, and the central nervous system. Sulfur is also required for the manufacture of glutathione, an essential antioxidant.

5. Non-glutenous Grains

Nutrients and healing activity

These grains are completely gluten free and have a low glycemic index so will keep your blood sugar levels stable and decrease cravings for unhealthy foods. They are also full of essential nutrients. Quinoa, for instance, is a complete protein (contains all the essential amino acids) and is also a good source of minerals, including magnesium, iron, and selenium. It also contains B-complex vitamins, including folate, and vitamin E. Brown rice contains B-complex vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6, B9) and vitamin K. Try avoid normal rice as this will affect your blood-sugar levels (aim for low GI).

Servings per day: At least 2-3 servings a day to keep your strength and energy up.

6. Oily Fish

Oil (the “omega’s”) helps keep the nervous system running as it should. Fish rich in fatty acids are the best way to consume these vital nutrients.

Salmon, herring, lake trout.

Nutrients and healing activity

These fish have the highest omega-3 content per 3.5 grams. Omega 3 essential fatty acids are absolutely vital for people with MS as they are needed to help build up and repair the damaged myelin sheath. They may also work to decrease certain immune reactions and reduce inflammatory responses. Small studies have shown that people who consumed a diet rich in omega 3 oils had an improved relapse rate, slower disease progression and improved MS symptoms.

Servings per week: 2-3 per week (not recommended to be eaten everyday because of possible mercury content).

Nutrients and healing activity

Nuts and seeds are rich sources of protein and essential fats. They also contain those beautiful vitamin Bs and other essential minerals like vitamin E, magnesium, potassium, copper and iron. Please see the post on Nuts and Seeds for more detailed information about nutrients specific to each of them.

Servings per day: Because these foods are packed with protein and high in healthy oils, you only need a handful per day to get a serving from the protein group. However, if you feel that you need to eat more than this to improve your energy levels then go for it! The nuts and seeds that are rich in omega 3 fatty acids (flaxseed, walnut, chia and pumpkin seeds) can actually improve metabolism. I snack on nuts and seeds throughout the day as I find they keep my blood sugar levels stable and my energy levels high.

Serving suggestions: blended in smoothies, sprinkled over salads, mixed together in a snack box, added to a vegetable dish (never heat nuts at high temperatures).

Note: Some people have difficulty digesting nuts and seeds and in this case, soaking them overnight initiates the sprouting process and improves digestibility.

These are the condiments/foods that will add flavour and tastiness to any dish. They will be essential to your enjoyment of this way of eating. There is hardly a dish I eat that is not accompanied by a generous dash of olive oil and a few delicious olives. All of the above condiments can be found in the recipe section. For the purpose of this post, I am going to focus on the benefits and serving suggestions for EV olive oil.

Nutrients and healing activity

It is important that you choose EV olive oil over normal olive oil. In the oil extraction process, it doesn’t get heated and thus retains all its essential fats and nutrients. It is high in omega 9 fatty acids. Importantly for people with MS, it has strong anti-inflammatory properties and contains vital antioxidants like vitamin E and beta-carotene.

Servings per day: As much as you like! Let your body lead you on this. You may start to feel that it is becoming too rich for you and that’s when you know that your body has what it needs.

Serving suggestions: EV olive oil can be used with every single dish you eat. It should never be heated but can be mixed with a dish once it has been cooked. It tastes just as good and your body will love it in this pure, uncooked state.

Sprinkle over popcorn after it has been popped, dollop over baked vegetables when they have come out of the oven, throw over a freshly prepare salad, add to cooked vegetables, spread onto rice cakes that have been buttered with marmite (a personal favourite of mine).

9. Water

Water is a key ingredient for the body to operate at its best. Water is needed at every level, especially for neuron activity and brain functionality.

Purified water

Servings per day: 2 litres (68 oz).

Serving suggestions: Try to consume a large glass before every meal. Drinking water first thing in the morning is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

Summing up the MS diet

I realize that it’s difficult for you to even consider giving up these foods. They are engrained in the staple diets of every westernised nation. For many of you, these foods form the majority of what you eat on a daily basis. I’m sure you are thinking that you might just starve, giving up all these foods! It is, however, possible to avoid these foods and still eat delicious and filling meals. If you are worried about losing weight, don’t be! You will lose a bit of weight at the start while your body adjusts to this new way of life. However, you will find your perfect weight after a few months and maintain it. With all the olive oil, nuts and salmon, there is enough calories to keep you at a healthy weight.

There were so many times in my first few weeks of following this way of eating that I said to myself, ‘I can’t believe I haven’t been eating like this all my life!’. There were equally difficult days when I craved my favourite foods from my ‘pre MS diet’. However, these cravings didn’t last too long once replaced with a healthier alternative. So don’t give up, each good day of eating is a step towards healthy MS nutrition. Try not to make too many changes to your MS diet too often.

And that’s it! Remember that this is a change in lifestyle and not a quick fix diet. It is likely that you will need to eat this way for the rest of your life. However, when you start reaping the benefits, you’ll say ‘Bring it on!’ everyday. Yes, of course there will be days where you don’t eat well but tomorrow is always another day and you will get back on the wagon and keep persevering. Enjoy every morsel of this delicious, healing food!

Please let me know how you are finding this way of eating, and what your MS diet consists of. Your feedback is valuable to all those who visit the site.

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Sorry about the delay in my response. I have done a little research and it seems that the opinions out there are divided on what cashews actually are. It seems to be a hot topic of debate. Most are saying that it is not a nut or a legume but a seed. Very interesting! I think this is a case of, try them out and see how your body reacts to them. If all seems to be fine, then keep enjoying them.

As for zinc, I have never heard that it can overstimulate the immune system. It is important for the proper functioning of the immune system and will make sure it does what it is supposed to. What have you experienced?

Hi! Before I found your website, I had come to the conclusion through MUCH research that such a diet would benefit me. I did really well for a while, but then I got stupid and thought “I could have a little of this” or “well, it’s a special occasion.” Boy, was I wrong. The biggest and worst thing that happens to me in the “MS hug.” It is so painful and lasts for days. I’ve read that not every has that happen, and if you don’t, know that you are very lucky! I’m going to try very hard to stick to this diet. I miss cheese and beans the most. Non-dairy cheese is not good. LOL

Yes, it is so worth it to stick to the diet. Really helps to manage symptoms more effectively. I have heard that the MS hug is horrible! You are a very brave lady. Every time you are tempted to eat something you shouldn’t, just remember that feeling and it will help you stay on course. Really hope you are well at the moment!

Hi Alice
Yes! I won’t go near them. I have actually never tried them but from hearing so many horror stories about them, I know they are not the route I want to take to keep myself well. It’s very interesting what you said about Copaxone. Is this how it is supposed to help?

Hi Kim, Thank so much for your positive website and MS diet info. I was diagnosed 2 yrs ago but have struggled with symptoms for 25 years. After a week hospitalization and 2000 iu’s of steroids daily when I was first diagnosed I was overwhelmed to say the least! I was on copaxone for 1 1/2 yrs and suddenly had a severe allergic reaction and was hospitalized again. A team of neurologists strongly disagreed with my decisision to not use any ms meds. I have always used supplements and researched homeopathic alternatives. I have studied Dr. Roy Swank and Dr. Terry Wahls and did some of the diet suggestions as I was overwhelmed by the scientific information and my mind not working correctly. After reading your website and finding it so easy to use and understand (even when I am exhausted) I am 100% on board with the ms diet!!!! I spent 3 hours at a Whole foods grocery yesterday morning and already within 24 hours my stomach is not bloated and the swelling in my face and legs are less! Thank you sooooo much for your well written easy to use ms diet information! I feel as though I am supported by a a lot of other women just like me and I feel a sense of accountability to “ms diet for women” as it helps me have the will power to make it a natural part of my life. I just have a huge learning curve! But I know together we can do it!! God bless you and your gifts!!

Hi Tamara! Really glad that you have found the website useful and that you are motivated to start this way of life! It sounds like you have had a difficult time with meds so hopefully food is going to be your treatment now. It is actually amazing what just one day on the diet can do for you. I’m glad that you are feeling better already. This is a lifelong commitment that you have to make and there will be days that you eat the wrong foods but don’t let that demotivate you. Get back on the wagon again as soon as you can. We are all here to support you so keep up the great work! It is really going to pay off! Kim

Thank you for your post. I have had MS since last year. I am 58 and have just started on Gilenya. My appetite is limited but i’m sure glad you posted all the foods to avoid. Giving up most foods won’t be a problem. Nice to know there are alternatives for the things I do eat.

Hi Kathy! How is it all going with the meds? Are you experiencing any side effects? You sound like such a positive person with such a good attitude towards all of this. Hope you are feeling great on the diet!

Just recently diagnosed and looking forward to having you’re input and help on this diet.
I need the guidance right now,I was trying myself to cut out the wrong things long before I was properly diagnosed but I’m seeing now that I wasn’t totally on the right track!

Hi Maureen! Thanks for your comment. Being recently diagnosed, you must still be sorting through all this new information and trying to come to terms with it all. I’m glad that you are motivated to make the changes. If you can be disciplined and really stick to it then you will notice a big difference in the way you feel. Keep us updated on how you feel!

hi Kim,
my sister was on interpheron every other day, for nearly 3 months. now, her doctor asked to stop it as her liver enzymes was high… they will study her case and may give her oral medication instead. i am really scared of what will happen to her..please advice me…God bless you our angel xxx
hanna

Hi Hanna! Thanks for getting in touch. You sound very worried about your sister. Medication has so many side effects so it is wonderful if MS can be treated with diet, exercise and stress reduction. If she can do this for a while before going onto any any medication, her liver enzymes will surely go down to normal levels. What does she think of this?

Ash Wednesday I decided I was going to try to eat better for my health and MS. Now day 7 I’m thinking more clearly, sleeping better, have more energy – just overall GOOD. My drop foot – no changes. Balance and eye sight are much improved. Cravings – only coffee, I was drinking 4 cups w/ almond milk (unsweetend) & Stevia, last 7 days none. So far great start, I’m hoping to stick with it.

Any changes to the drop foot? I have had only one relapse two years ago. Spent a lot (i mean a LOT) of money on all kind of tests, supplements etc. Also made lots of lifestyle changes (nutrition, rest, exercise).

Havent had any more relapses (fingers crossed) but when my body temp rises (from exercise, very hot bath, sauna) or after walking for over 20mins or so at a fast-ish pace, the drop right foot and weakness to my right side will return temporarily. Basically exacerbations caused by heat. Nothing has been able to help with this, and I believe they are consequences of the only active lesion ever detected at the cervical spine (rest of lesions on the brain were all old). Unless i repair that myelin, im pretty sure not will help with the drop foot.

Sorry to ramble on, but let me know if youve managed to find anything for the drop foot?

I have had MS since I was 18 and am now 43 and have 5 kids. I take prenatal pills ( I am not pregnant) and a B complex vitamin daily. I wanted to encourage you and tell you not to forget the power of healing through God. If He heals you or takes you through it always turn to Him in prayer and supplication. God bless you. email me if you want to chat

Hi Ruby! Thank you for the encouraging comment. You sound very strong in your faith. That’s a great place to be. Wow, you have 5 kids. That’s amazing. they must really keep you busy! Do you find it difficult to juggle their varying needs? How are your symptoms?

Hi I am just recently diagnose and feeling overwhelemd by all. I am afraid and have had so much information on paleo and other diets that dont know what to do. But your comment touched my heart. The Lord is good! I am holding on to his promises of healing. I feel good my vision is blurry on one eye but not terrible other than that I feel fine. Thanks for your words

Hi Mary Ann
I think it’s best to just go cold turkey and stop eating them but have alternatives waiting in the wings. Lots of fruit and some raw treats such as my pecan maple and oat balls. You can still have some gluten free carbs such as a bit of rice and quinoa and potato. You can do it – you’ll see such bi difference in your health!

I was diagnosed with MS and I am struggling with he diet piece. This article simplified it a little for me, I wish that someone would tell me what to eat and how much for each mean because I get so confused or a site with a shopping list to take to the supermarket or health food store. I am in my 30’s work really hard at work and never have time to make my own food so these recipes are a bit tough but I am willing to do whatever it takes. I workout and do all that I am supposed to do except the diet piece. If anyone can help please email me [email protected]. Thanks for this website. It was great and I printed out a lot of recipes.

Hi Michele! Have you signed up to the site yet? You will get a free grocery list. It’s hard to keep up with making your own food when you work long hours. That’s why, when you cook, make enough for lunch the next day and perhaps dinner. There are also very easy measl you can make like steamed veg with rice or salad with roast sweet potato. These don’t take very long at all. Find a few that work for you and stick to them! Stay in touch!

Hi Kim!
My daughter is 15 yrs old and she got diagnosed with MS 2 months ago and we are new to this. It’s heartbreaking to see my daughter go through this. She had 2 relapses within 3 weeks first one was numbness on her left arm and leg. I took her to hospital they did 3 MRI’s and they said she has MS and the second relapse was her vision and we didn’t know what to do its so hard . My question is that the doctors want to put her on gilenya 0.5mg and a side effect is brain infection! Now I’m stuck between giving her medicine or try this diet and exercise and nutrition ? But the doctor said if she doesn’t take medication she is going to be in weel chair in 3-4 yrs. n the medicine says she can get brain infection and it can cause death and slow her heart beat. Pls tell me what u think is the best for her, since u have ms for so long u now what’s the best for her and thank you !!

Hi Imran, thank you for getting in touch! I’m sorry to hear that you are going through such a difficult time wth your daughter’s diagnosis. I can hear that you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Doctors are telling you that the meds are essential whilst you feel that there is actually a greater risk to her health by taking them. There is no way that the doctors can predict what is going to happen to your daughter in 3-4 years time. If you feel very strongly that you need to go with the natural route completely then that’s what you need to do. Your daughter needs to understand that she must stick to the ms diet 100%. I would actually recommend starting with a week of raw food only just to give her body a boost. She must start the day with lots of water and a very nutritious smoothie. I would also highly recommend that she doesn’t eat anything after 6pm. This will give her body time to heal at night – instead of digesting food. Have you read Linda Bloom’s story on the blog? http://www.msdietforwomen.com/interview-linda-bloom

Hi Kim, I enjoyed what you wrote and how you presented the information. I have Primary Progressive MS, I’m not wheelchair bound but with all the other diets i.e Whahls, Gershon, etc I get overwhelmed with the amount of shopping and prepping. Other than getting a chef. What is the secret?!

Hi Natalie, it’s great to hear from you! I agree – it can get very confusing and overwhelming. I think the secret is finding what works for you and sticking to it. It’s also about keeping it simple. I eat the same things almost every day with slight variations. I know that these foods make me feel good and they are just so easy and natural to prepare now, it’s so easy I could so it in my sleep 🙂 Hope this helps! I know you’ll find your rhythm!

Hi Kim,
My 22 year old daughter was just diagnosed on 07/12/16. We were broken to say the least. The only symptom she has ever had is blindness to her right eye, once 7 years ago and again 2 months ago. We went to a MS specialist at the Cleveland clinic who of course looked at one MRI and diagnosed her. She wants my daughter to start on the MS drugs immediately. This was more fearful than the diagnosis itself. I am a registered nurse and know how damaging these drugs can be to normal tissue. We have decided to go the holistic route due to the fact she feels great right now; no symptoms at all and her vision in her right eye is back 90%. We plan to monitor the progression with repeat MRIs for now. Thank you so much for all this wonderful information as it can be overwhelming searching the internet. Im thankful that God sent me to your website!

Hi Dawn, I’ve just seen that I haven’t replied to your comment. Huge apologies for the delay. You’re 4 months in now so I’m sure she’s found a good rhythm with her new lifestyle. I just wanted to say a huge well done to you for making that critical decision to go the natural route with her treatment. How is she doing?

It is after 4 o’clock in the morning and I can’t sleep, so I’m doing what every other person with MS does at 4 o’clock in the morning, which is reading more about this strange disease we have been gifted with. THANK YOU for this, for what you have shared. I am newly diagnosed and was terribly discouraged today until right now. I have chosen to forgo DMD’s, but am finding the progression of my MS to be more rapid than I would have thought at first and have been doubting my decision. Reading this has again encouraged me that this is the right path for me for now. My biggest issue at the moment is dizziness and constant vertigo, would you have any suggestions to possibly help alleviate that? And thank you again, this was just what I needed tonight to be encouraged to keep going. And I do love how you reduced a lot of information to something concise and easy to process. I am reading the Wahl’s protocol and loving it but this is a wonderful compliment to the information she presents. And it also made me want to eat more fish 🙂

I’ve been diagnosed with MS about 5 years ago. I am now 23.. my eating habits haven’t been the best but I’ve been trying to do better. I also would to let you all know that you guys should consider going to the chiropractor to get your adjustments. The individuals that have MS there and have been getting adjustments, their lesions have actually disappeared or stopped. This is my third week of getting my adjustments and I already feel different. My back used to always hurt but it doesn’t anymore. I have a lot more energy, no headaches , and I sleep so much better. I hope that you guys decide to do this. It really does help.

I agree with you completely. Diet does control MS symptoms. I stopped eating red meat in 1998. It’s a funny story so let me share it with you. I went to a restaurant and had a fabulous filet mignon; it was so good that I decided to take half of it home to put on a salad the next day. The next day when I took out my delicious filet mignon, it was more than 50% fat. When it was hot it was juicy but when it got cold, it was disgusting. That was my last bite of red meat. No wonder they keep the light so dark and steakhouses!

Thanks for the info. Please check – you have buckwheat listed under the category of containing gluten and it does not. You have hummus listed as a recommended condiment – it is made with garbanzo beans – a legume that you suggest not eating. Coffee with caffeine has recently been shown to improve MS symptoms – please check your data.

Thank you, you’ve provided a wonderful lot of information here, Kim. I am confused though that you list green beans as a food to avoid within the legumes category and yet you have it listed as a food to embrace under the green vegetables category. Can you clarify which list it is most appropriate for, thanks.

Thanks for your comment and noting the discrepancy in the lists. I have actually only decided to exclude legumes in the past 2 weeks and deleted them from the foods to avoid list. Green beans must have slipped through the cracks, sorry about that!

Green beans are controversial legumes though. One of the main reasons legumes should be avoided is that they contain lectins which prevent our bodies from absorbing certain nutrients. However, green beans contain mostly fibre and a very small amount of lectin. There are people, who avoid legumes, who are actually still eating green beans and finding that they don’t effect them. If you feel that they are still safe to eat then try them for a while and see of they affect you at all.

Hi! I was diagnosed 9 years ago, when I was 25. I started eating Paleo (ish) about 2.5 years ago. Never had any relapses (yay!). I understand staying away from *grain* fed meat… but *grass* fed meat is actually high in omega-3 fatty acids, which helps to decrease inflammation. I guess I don’t understand why autoimmune people should stay away from saturated fats.

Great questions Joanna! Its also wonderful to hear you have taken charge of your diet and have already seen wonderful results! Saturated fats are known to increase the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, allowing immune cells to attack the nervous system. Saturated fats can also interfere with the conversion of essential fatty acids, which can lead to further inflammation. Thanks so much for the comment, and all the best!

Great article and very resourceful. I follow most of this and so far so good, allow some gluten and very limited dairy (once a week for each, tops). I strictly follow the saturated fat and know I have a great deal more of energy from my changes in diet.

Only correction I would have is that I do not believe that Roy Swank had MS. Guy that wrote a book on him does, Sid Barron(spelling?), but Not Dr Swank. Some people do not follow this protocol of low sat fat and have had success – I read where someone mentioned grass fed meats – should read more about Dr Wahls if have not to this point. Pretty remarkable story she has about her recovery from being in a wheelchair with a progressive form.

Thank you so much, I just love it when ladies say this page is useful! Thanks so much for highlighting that, I’ve tweaked the page now to elaborate further on Dr Swank and Dr Wahls. I appreciate your input – this all helps to improve the quality of this page! Have you read The China Study? Overall I have chosen to avoid meat altogether, but can understand grass-fed venison might be ok. Thanks again for getting in touch!

Hi Kim! I absolutely LOVE your site! I recently have begun being pro-active about my MS by refining the way I eat. I have been following the Swank diet and have seen fantastic results. I love your combination of the existing diets and am going to try mixing things up a bit by following your method. Though I’m sure I’ll have some questions along the way. 😉 Warmest regards.

Hi Megan, thanks so much for your positive comment! It really makes my day when I hear ladies are loving the site and it is really helping them. Yes, my MS diet has been slightly adapted from the Swank diet, firstly to taylor it for myself, and secondly, based on my own additional research I have done over the past few years. I am so glad you are on board and have taken a stand to fight, we are in this together! I would love you to ask any questions you have, please feel free to contact me. Please keep me updated with your progress!

I started yesterday and I am doing a herbel cleanse, only eating fruits and veggies !!! Praying all goes well.. REally would love some more recipes !!! Thank You Kim for your motivation to help others …

Hi Nickie! Thank you for your kind comment, I am super-psyched to help other ladies with MS, so its awesome to hear you are moving forward in the right direction! Well done! I know the recipes are a bit thin on the site at the moment, hoping to have more out soon!

Hi Karin! In an earlier comment on this page, I noted that green beans are controversial, but I can see I have caused some confusion. Some people are ok with them, others are not. I have removed them from the grocery list (and sent you an updated version). I personally avoid all legumes, but you could give them a try and see if they affect you. Thanks for helping to refine things for us all! Kim

I hear you! The more variety the better. I absolutely LOVE raw juices. Get yourself a juicer and get the Juice Master recipe book. This will give you loads of ideas for amazingly tasty but nutritious drinks.

Thanks for your comment! I completely agree that saturated fat should be limited. Olive oil is actually a monounsaturated fat which means that it is much healthier for us. Nuts are also mainly monounsaturated fats which is great news!

I use olive oil generously on my salads and veggies because it is anti-inflammatory in nature and it makes everything taste so good!

The only saturated fat I promote is coconut oil because it is from a vegetable source. The body can make use of it much more effectively than, for example, saturated fat from red meat which just does damage really. I don’t have coconut milk too often though. Maybe 1-2 times a week.

what an amazing job you have done. Thank you so much for putting it all together in such a simple and exacting manner. Your information is tops.I have been on a candida/alkaline diet for many years. A few things i can eat in moderation, raw chocolate in a coconut base, and raw goat cheese in small amounts. cooked chocolate makes me very sick, but carob makes me sicker than raw chocolate. And cooked cheese, and I am on the ground, but raw, and goat, and i am healthy as can be. I also use a magnesium spray, by Ancient Minerals that completely quells spascisticy and leg cramps. It also helps with the MS hug. I take rhodiola rosea for fatigue, and it really helps a lot. 500 mg after breakfast, and the same after lunch. It will keep you awake if you take it any later in the day. thanks again for such a helpful site.

Oops, I forgot to mention that! I have chosen to treat my MS with diet. The very first book I read was The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book. Your site is encouraging in that it confirms & supports what I have learned.

What are your thoughts on vinegar as a condiment? I’ve read distilled vinegar should be avoided (and I read your thoughts on balsamic) but apple cider vinegar is recommended for individuals with MS. Do you agree with this statement?

I don’t use vinegar as a condiment at all. It is too hard on the stomach and can increase the likelihood of leaky gut.

Apple cider seems to be good for overall health but there doesn’t seems to be any concrete evidence that it can actually be a remedy for MS. I would probably avoid it but if you feel that it is helping, in small amounts, then give it a go but just be very aware of how are symptoms are doing.

Fermented foods are often good for stomach health but because they are fermented, they could actually end up being toxic to the body so I would also avoid them. Which fermented foods are you thinking of trying?

Hi Kim,
Wow am I glad I found your web-site! I was just diagnosed in May of 2012. I knew drugs were not for me and like you I dove deep into research. I love your site and find it to be just what I need to get re-motivated to clean up my diet. I have found huge results with the diet! I think the colder weather here in CO is helping me feel great even though I am not following the MS diet as strictly as I should. But, with your help and motivation and your awesome positive outlook I am cleaning it up and getting ready for the summer heat and recommitted to heal my MS! Does anyone else find the heat to trigger your MS?

It is my absolute pleasure! Thanks for the very sweet comment Steph! I love it! Its all a process, as long as you going forwards with a committed heart, thats great! We’re all in this together! Hot and cold seems to affect all MS’ers differently, we had quite a long discussion on the facebook page a while back. Keep us updated!

Unfortunately, I’m not a fan of any alcohol (see FAQ 33 for more details) as it affects many sensitive areas of the body, which then works against all the effort I put with my MS diet. There are benefits to wine, like stress reduction, anti-oxidants, etc, but the side-effects far out-weigh the benefits in my opinion. But, everyone needs to decide for themselves what their MS diet will consist of. Hope that helps. 😉

My mother is the one with M.S., but becasue she is chair bound I am the one who does all the cooking. Can you direct me to other websites that contain recpies? I also cook for my dad and brother, both of which are avid meat eaters.

Thanks for your message. What a wonderful daughter you are, looking after your Mum! There are not many websites that do gluten, dairy and sugar free recipes. You could check out cleancuisine.com. They don’t exclude gluten and dairy though.

However, I am putting together a programme containing daily meal plans with recipes for each day. It will be available next month some time. I will definitely let you know as soon as it is ready.

To make things easier, you could make the same meal for everyone, such as steamed or baked vegetables and rice and then just add some thing extra for the men. A big juicy steak?

Have just been diagnosed with MS 3 weeks ago and have my next MRI and Neurologist appt next week. Have already made changes to my diet after reading the book ‘Taking control of Multiple Sclerosis” and finding your website. Thought it was best to get a headstart before any more symptoms present themselves. My though process is what have I got to lose-it won’t do me any harm. Must say that after only 1 1/2 weeks I already feel that I am not as tired. Thanks for the site I think it will be a godsend. Finding recipes for this new eating is my challenge as I am not the best cook but determined to change that so I can stick with it.

PPMS is tough to have and I know that there are many other women looking for others with this type. I can recommend joining the community to connect with other women who have this type. Loads of people with PPMS have found success with the diet.

Hi Kim I was just currently diagnosed a few weeks ago started with optic neuritis but still have not regained vision in my right eye which is the hardest thing right now :). But I am Having some new symptoms over the past 10 days. Had few more MRI done Friday waiting on results… As you and everyone on here has or is going through the initial news is mind boggling .! Decisions do meds or hope holistic and change in diet is the right thing or combination of both??? I am so hoping that finding your page will be a blessing I have already changed some of my diet and added lots of vitamins I will continue to follow your MS diet. Thank you for allowing me access to great ideas for change. Jane

Hi Jane and welcome! Yes, it can be quite a shock after diagnosis, I am glad to hear the site has helped you! Choosing to take meds is a very difficult decision. Dont feel bad if you need to, the goal is always to not have to, for some that takes longer than others. Just bear in mind, drugs have their own impact on your body, which is why I wont take them unless I need to. Thank you for reaching out! Kim

Your website is great, I have always been a healthy eater and exercise a lot, but back in january this year I was dianogsed with MS, I was so shocked and still can not beleive it, this is my second attack after a 5 year gap, so I thought it would not return but it did. I am almost back to normal, I dont take any meds, and have always beleived that eating healthy helps and glad to find someone that agrees with me, so I have continued with it, even healthier now. I saw that you say to avoid green tea because of the caffine, I drink the tettley de cafe version that is nicer anyway not so bitter, and with a squeeze of lemon juice. So glad I have found this website. Thanks

Hi Maria! Thanks for sharing your story. It is such a shock when you are diagnosed but it sounds as if you are coping really well. Glad that you have decided to choose this path for your MS journey. Nourishing and looking after your body is the best way to help it heal itself. Because that is what your body will do if given the time and the right tools. All the best to you! Stay in touch. Kim

Hey all, I was just wondering if anyone out there is familiar with kombucha tea and whether or not it helps MS symptoms.

Also, is anyone frangrance-free and found out that it helps with MS symptom relief. I dated a man briefly that had to avoid fragrances and that meant I threw pretty much everything out, but I felt fantastic after.

Hi Kim,
Thank you for such an amazing site!I’m from the U.S. and I was recently diagnosed in January after waking up one day with double vision and altered vision that didn’t improve with time or sinus meds. Since I was off work for 5 weeks with my flare up I dove right in to overhauling my diet because the research I was doing all pointed to diet and lifestyle changes as being primary treatment for this disease. Of course, it was much easier to do being home every day 🙂 and now that I have returned to work I find myself struggling to remain consistent. I saw in one of your posts that you might be posting weekly meal plans, and I am very much looking forward to this! I also find your site and daily posts to be very inspiring! I do have a question about your thoughts on “nightshade” vegetables. Some of my research points to avoiding these foods due their potential inflammatory effects, other research and diet plans suggest to embrace them. What have you found with your extensive research?

Thanks for the wonderful feedback. Great to hear that you are becoming fully immersed in the MS Diet way of eating. This is brilliant and will hopefully help with your symptoms. It has done for so many others. Great that you are back at work.

It is tough to remain disciplined when you lead a busy life. Much easier to do from home! Yes, I have put meal plans, recipes and shopping lists together. These resources and more have just been released and are available to be purchased (for a nominal fee). The link is http://www.msdietforwomen.com/ms-diet-resources. They may come in handy for planning weekly meals! Let me know what you think!

Nightshade veggies: Mmm… Contentious issue. In my research I have discovered that they are definitely a no no for arthritis which is an autoimmune joint disease. It seems that somewhere along the line this info may have been generalised to MS. Still need to do more research though. If you feel that they are affecting you then cut them out. We are all different and what is fine for some may be bad for others. Just listen carefully to your body.

Your information is extremely helpful. I spent 1 year on the Candida diet and have been off for awhile because I lost way too much weight! I’m suffering from weakness and numbness in my fingers but the largest challenge is my balance – lesion on top of my spine. I’m excited to restart my MS diet. Wanted to ask if you have heard anything about the healing properties of Zija Moringa? The vitamins in Zija Moringa are 4-7 times greater than the supplements I am taking. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

Hi Tracy, yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!
Zija moringa is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!! I am soooooo thankful my friend loved me enough to tell me about it and say what all it had done for her and for me to give it a try.
You can go to you tube they did a documentary on it Moringa Olifera Documentary and see it all for yourself.
Feel free to reply I would love to talk to you and help answer any questions you might have I’ve been taking it for about 4 years or so

Hi Tracy, yes yes yes!!!!!!!!!
Zija moringa is WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!! I am soooooo thankful my friend loved me enough to tell me about it and say what all it had done for her and for me to give it a try.
You can go to you tube they did a documentary on it Moringa Olifera Documentary and see it all for yourself.
Feel free to reply I would love to talk to you and help answer any questions you might have I’ve been taking it for about 4 years or so

Hi Kim…thank you for your website, you have done a lot of hard work. I have currently been on the MS Recovery Diet for 1 year and have had no change for the good, only worsening. I re-looked the diet and found that I was eating too much fat (15gm maximum) and I was exceeding that. Also, I eat too much sugar, which I have now eliminated. I hope that with your support I can get on the road to recovery. I do question chicken? Thanks again – Bonnie

Thanks for the info! I do not have MS but another neuro syndrome called Ataxia that responds well to most of this diet. I also eat grass fed beef and goat’s milk dairy. I have eliminated most of what you have as well.
I am wondering what your thoughts are on butter? Maybe even Goats milk butter?

Thank you for offering a positive resource, that has a bright outlook for those with MS. I’m curious if you have encountered other people that have encountered new symptoms after they have started the diet?

I had been on the MS recovery diet for 5 weeks when I experienced a new and more intense symptom than before I began. My previous symptoms were limited to slight foot drop and some slightly blurred vision, that were mostly noticeable when exercising. I was officially diagnosed with MS 2 months ago, and immediately started the diet to be proactive. After 5 weeks of being very strict on the diet, a sudden onset of numbness started from my glutes, down the back of my legs and across the bottom of both feet. After 2 weeks the symptoms are still intense.

I am hopeful that the diet will eventually allow my body to heal. But I am curious if others get “worse” before getting better?

Thank you very much for your insight and sharing your journey of healing with all of us!
–Mel

Hi Mel!
Your body often goes through a ‘healing crisis’ when you start cutting out unhealthy foods and introducing nourishing foods. In order to start the healing process, your body first had to get rid of toxins and so it does a detox of sorts. This can actually make your symptoms temporarily worse as your body gets rid of the junk. However, it should last long and then you should start feeling a lot better than you did before.
It can be a bit disheartening, I know! Just hang in there. It will improve soon!
Also, just watch some of the things you are eating. Have you eaten any legumes, soy or citrus fruits recently? These can sometimes cause a reaction. Please keep me posted on how you are feeling!

I have had a healthy lifestyle for many years now, being in the best shape of my life at age 36, when the first symptoms appeared while training for a half marathon. Working out lots, and lifting weights like a bodybuilder, helped me prepare for my job as a full-time firefighter. I would eat “clean” but a bodybuilder diet still contains gluten, dairy. etc.

It’s now a few years later and I am no longer a firefighter or running races. I been disciplined to stay on the MS diet, and have avoided all legumes and soy. I’ve used some citrus while cooking, but after reading your recent progress report about citrus, and have limited that too.

It’s great to hear some people go through a temporary “healing crisis” and I’ll remain optimistic that is my case as well. (focusing on temporary!) 🙂 Hopefully my next comment will be the other side of “getting worse before better.”

Wow, you sound very fit and healthy! It’s great that you were a fire fighter. Must have been quite a stressful career though.
Sounds like you have started the diet but have had a return of symptoms. Yes, this is possibly a healing crisis and hopefully your symptoms will start improving as the toxins are eliminated from your body. Please keep us updated on your progress!

Kim, I have really enjoyed reading your webpage and getting further information on how to heal my body! Thank you so much. My question is about the same as Melody above, have you had any experience with symptoms getting worse after starting the diet? I have been following the diet pretty well, with a few slip ups for 15 weeks and I have new symptoms that I didn’t have 15 weeks ago?
Also you have listed in foods to avoid in Legumes, alfalfa, does that include alfalfa sprouts? Which I make and consume weekly. Thanks in advance for you help! Kim

Hi Kim
Thanks for your lovely comment! I do think you need to be careful of those alfalfa sprouts. They could definitely be causing a reaction. Maybe you need to cut them out for a while and see how you feel. Introduce them again after 6 weeks and then you will know whether they are ok for you or not. Also keep in mind that your body will often go through ‘healing crises’ as you cleanse the toxins that have been building up. This can cause temporary symptoms to flare up but this is actually a sign that your body is healing so it is good. Let me know how it goes, I’m here if you have any more questions!

Thanks for the lovely feedback! Well done for starting with this way of life. It is not easy at times but you will learn to love it! Normal oats do have gluten in them so try and find gluten free oats which is great! How is the diet going?

I was diagnosed with RRMS in 2011, but my neuro just wanted me in a clinical trial (no thanks) have you read up on those meds (may or may not help but thought to improve or lessen relapses) yeah ok. Anyway was raw vegetarian for a long time but recently started following Dr. Terry Wahls, but very intrested in your info because you know a lot about a lot. 🙂 thanks for your sweet heart and willingness to help share wit others. -C.A.

Hi there!
Thanks for the lovely feedback! I don’t blame you for not wanting to go the medication route. Not very nice at all! Luckily there is a better way. How are you feeling on the diet? Is it helping?

Been a few months since I checked the comments section but the website is still looking great! Thanks for all your hard work. 🙂

As far as fermented foods, I was questioning Komucha and homemade sour pickles, and pickled jalapeños. I think I’m going to try and see how my body reacts.

I wanted to ask you why you’ve included corn on your “safe” list of foods. I thought corn was a genetically modified food, low nutrional value, and full of sugar and starch? Maybe I’ve been avoiding it all this time for no reason?!

Hi Catherine
Thanks for the encouragement and positive feedback! I thoroughly enjoy connecting with everyone and learning more everyday! Fermented foods are often really good for gut health so yes, give them a go! How do you feel on them?
Corn should really be organic so that it is not GMO. It does have a lot of omega 6 fats in it which can be inflammatory but won’t make a difference if you have it ever now and then. Popcorn is a great gluten free treat that is not very nutritious but just helps those snacky cravings. Corn is also a great source of fibre. I probably have it once every two weeks.

Hi Kim. love your page. very informative. Appreciate your time and efforts, you have done a great job, just wonder if the diet would apply to primary progressive type of MS? any specific advise for this type of MS? any kind of tips will be helpful. Thanks for your hard work.

Hi April
It is great to eat as much organic food as you can get your hands on to avoid eating the pesticides and other chemicals. These are toxic for your body and can contribute to disease progress. If you can’t get hold of organic, make sure you wash regular fruit and veg really well. There is even a special scrubbing brush you can use. Hope that helps!

I was diagnosed 2 1/2 years ago, and have been in denial to a large extent. Twenty pounds of weight gain, and increasing symptoms are causing me to stop long enough to figure out how my life needs to change. It is still overwhelming to me. I think I can only take baby steps in changing my diet, and adding exercise to my routine. My body reacts to almost anything I eat, so I gave up even trying. I do see an increase when eating sugar or higher fat laden items, so that’s a start I know. My question is how to have fruit in my diet, when my body reacts to the natural sugars in them as well? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Linda
You find yourself in quite a predicament. Doe your body react to all fruit sugars? What symptoms do you get after eating an apple, for instance? Fruit is supposed to be the ‘perfect food’ to balance your blood sugar levels and feed your cells. The only thing I can recommend is eat as many green and brightly coloured veggies as you can and try fruit every now and then to see how your body handles it. All the best to you!

i know this was a couple momths ago but hopefully you will see it. i am brand new at ms but an old pro at the fruit issues you speak of. mine come from an underlying systemic candida (yeast) problem, which is closely related to the leaky gut you read kim talk about on this site. it’s all a jumbled up mess! but i totally get your fruit fears. for several years, i have struggled with the healthy benefits of fruit and how they make me feel. ive found after lots of trial and error that certain things have an immediate effect on me — mainly what i call the lunchbox fruits – apples, pears, bananas,… – as well as sweet veggies like carrots & sugar snap peas. if i eat any of them, i feel terrible a few minutes later and am starving for the next several hours, no matter what i do. after combining all my yeast research (which really says to get rid of fruit) with the other things i believe are important for our bodies, i am settled on this. some fruits are out for me forever. others do not cause a reaction and the benefits seem to outweigh anything they may be doing that i dont know about. so i limit myslef to berries and melon, along with winter veggies like pumpkin, butternut squash and sweet potatoes. i stay clear from any other fruit and it is working well for me. i dont know if that will be the same magic formula for you, but i wanted you to know i understand the fruit thing. it seems like such good nutrition but some of us just cant handle it like others. you are not crazy! dont give up; maybe experiment yourself to see if some are worse than others. i would always give up the highest sugar contents first to see if that helps and go from there.

i hope you have already found some relief since this post and i pray you find your path to the best nutrition for your body. sometimes it seems like a never-ending project but it is so worth it. 🙂

Hi kim, just read your email…the diet is a very good one, you’ve put a lot of time and effort into this, you should be proud of yourself, im sure you are! I have ppms, so who knows if I get attacks, was just told its a steady progression. Yes its ftightening esp the odd headakes . Many of the foods I eat anyway and dont like sweet things anyway. Some things like cows milk, not sure if I could give that up, bit like a favourite food you’ve had for years.. one things for sure, I cant drink the slightest drop of red wine..it cramps me up immediately, same with cider.

Hi Mel
So glad you found the site! You are quite newly diagnosed so you must really still be adjusting. Eating well is a very important part of managing your symptoms. Start with dairy and saturated fat. You will also notice a huge difference once you get rid of gluten and sugar. Let us know how it goes!

I’m sorry that you don’t seem to be getting my replies. I replied to a comment of yours on the 13th June. They could be going into your junk mail? This was the response:

Hi Andrea

Sorry about the delay in my response. I have done a little research and it seems that the opinions out there are divided on what cashews actually are. It seems to be a hot topic of debate. Most are saying that it is not a nut or a legume but a seed. Very interesting! I think this is a case of, try them out and see how your body reacts to them. If all seems to be fine, then keep enjoying them.

As for zinc, I have never heard that it can overstimulate the immune system. It is important for the proper functioning of the immune system and will make sure it does what it is supposed to. What have you experienced?

Kim

I hope this answers your question about cashews. Buckwheat is fine. It is not ‘wheat’ and is completely gluten free. Yes, carob is a difficult one because it is a legume so you need to be careful of possible reactions to it. However, many people are fine with it and find that it is ok to eat. I think I need to make this more clear on the site. Lectins are the proteins that can cause food sensitivities in people.

hi kim, what a labor of love this site must be for you. so well done and im infinitely grateful you are willing to share your research. i am actually in the process of being diagnosed, but i have many symptoms, had multiple lesions on mri and my mom had and brother currently has m.s. so we are just waiting on neuro to red-stamp it. i am curious about the leaky gut issue and candida and if youve had any experience on the site with people who felt they had it. im very familiar with gluten/casein-free diets from my autistic son and also leaky gut syndrome, so i know the havoc it can wreak and i totally get the science behind your diet. but i feel sure i have a candida issue and struggle with whether i should eat fruit or those starchy veggies like carrots and sweet potatoes. have you run into this at all or heard of any possible correlation between candida and ms? i know its a chicken or egg thing but i just wonder if one exacerbates the other. if i cut the fruit and carby vegetables out, im down to pretty much veggies and fish! just not sure which is the bigger giant to treat. thanks. 🙂

Hi Janita
Lovely to hear from you! There is definitely a correlation between candida, leaky gut and MS. You need to look at how you are going to heal your gut. For me, I haven’t cut out fruit because I feel it is more healing than harmful. I think the problem comes in when you eat it with other foods. It doesn’t digest very quickly when you do this and hangs around fermenting in your tummy, this is when the damage is caused. Fruit should be eaten on an empty stomach. I also recommend a good probiotic. Hope you get some clarity on your condition soon. Kim

Hi Lee! I would advise against eating egg yolks because of the saturated fat. However, go easy on the whites and don’t have them too often. Maybe just 2 eggs a week. Just be aware of how they make you feel and cut them out if you notice any unusual reactions.

Hello Kim, what an amazing website you have made. I should mention right off the bat that I have not been diagnosed with MS, but have been seeing a neurologist after having some odd symptoms for a few months. I am kind of a hypochondriac, so I started researching autoimmunity and the possible affect diet has on it, and stumbled across your site. I am already a pretty fit person, having done resistance training and traditional bodybuilding dieting for quite some time, but I did not realize the effects certain dairy, meat products, ect have on the immune system. I would like to try this diet out for sure, and eliminate some potentially harmful things from my grocery list! I also will be coming back often. You and these other women are such amazing people. Best of health to you.

Great to hear from you. Yes, there are quite a few changes to be made to the usual ‘western’ diet. It is all so worth it though because you start to feel great and the MS symptoms improve so much. Keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on!

I have a few questions about protein. First, would you agree with going past .5g per pound of bodyweight? I workout pretty much whenever I can, and protein is all important to maintain my lean body mass. Secondly, would you advise getting protein from complete sources other than salmon and quinoa? Why exactly is poultry a no? What about other forms of seafood – such as tilapia, or shrimp? Egg white powder supplements?

Also, I realize it is important to limit saturated fat, but even in things like almond milk, EV olive oil, ect – there are small amounts which can add up fast. How many grams per day would you say is unhealthy? Thank you for your time, and keep up the great work with this site!

Thanks for your comment. Saturated fat consumption should not exceed 15g a day. This is according to Dr. Swanks’s ms diet study. Poultry does contain saturated fat so that is why I avoid it. You can eat other forms of seafood but don’t eat scavenger seafood like crab and shrimp too often as there could be toxins in their meat. EV olive oil and almond milk are fine but as you say, they do contain tiny amounts of saturated fat so don’t overdo it with these.
As for protein, you can actually get all your daily requirements from veg, nuts and grains such as quinoa. Our bodies don’t actually need to much. Have you read about professional athletes that are vegans? Not sure about eggs white powder. if you must have eggs, have the whites once or twice a week but be aware of how you are feeling afterwards.

Diagnosed 3yrs. Had steriod infusion 2yrs. Just been able to decide drug doses which include 2’700 g.of Gabaprentin daily together with amity, statins, and sleeping tabs. Sensory symptoms, not able to walk or stand due to pain. Gained stone and half in weight. Please help!!!!!

Hi Sue
It sounds like you are in a lot of pain at the moment. Your drugs don’t seem to be helping either. You need a radical lifestyle change. Are you prepared to change your diet drastically? If you are then this is really going to help. You really need to focus on the foods that heal and nourish and banish the ones that don’t. Go through the list on the MS diet page and use the shopping list to help you get started. I’m here to help and guide you on this journey!

thank you for your support…. people like you are angles on our planet … i am really thankful for God who led me to your website.
my sister was diagnosed with MS … since then our life is upside down… but with people like you sharing information that might help us … i feel safe … please keep it up …may God bless you all and cure you …
i will try my best to write to you any updates regarding my sister condition …

Thanks for getting in touch. You sound like an amazing support for your sister. It’s so wonderful that she has someone like you to get her going on this way of eating and encourage her daily. I know it must be very hard for you too. Are her symptoms quite advanced?

Hi Kim,
well … i can not judge if her symptoms are advanced or not … but she is suffering from what it look like electricity all over her body plus the numbness feeling and back pain (she also feels like if she is wearing gloves on her hands)….
Kim, is all dairy products not allowed ? what about skimmed or low fat products?
is drinking mint good?

Hi Hanan. Those sound like pretty common symptoms. Not pleasant though! Dairy products are not allowed because of the protein in them that the immune system can react to and also the saturated fat. Juicing mint is great!

Just want to say your article is as amazing. The clearness in your post is just nice and
i can assume you’re an expert on this subject. Fine with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please keep up the enjoyable work.

Hi there! Thanks for the encouraging comment. You are very kind. I really enjoy researching and putting info together in an easy way to understand. I’m glad you have decided to subscribe to the newsletters. I hope to chat to you again soon! Kim

Hi Kim, I love your website. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into helping others. I have not been diagnosed with MS, but I am almost positive that I have it. My sister was diagnosed with it last year, and after researching on the internet, I believe that I have it too. I have been experiencing numbness/tingling in my legs, feet, arms and hands for the past month or so. Yesterday my hand was burning/numb from the elbow down. Anyway, I already know I don’t want the medications so I started looking for alternatives and I found your site. I am going to move forward as if I have MS, and start this diet. I am worried the most about cutting bread and beans from my diet.

Hi Sarah! Great to hear from you. This must be a scary time for you, not knowing what is going on. Great that you are taking precautionary measures and starting the diet. It will do you so much good and hopefully prevent your symptoms from getting worse. Have you had a stressful time lately? Bread can be substituted with a gluten free option. I would recommend cutting out beans for 6 weeks and then testing them out again. If you are sensitive to them then you will know to keep cutting them out but if nothing happens and you still feel good then you can slowly reintroduce them.

Thank you so much Kim for your great insight, your website is FAB in content, design and tons of info! I’m just about to embark on a new path in my life; overcoming my MS. I always believed in a good diet and I’ve been dairy free for some time, but still you have showed me there are lots of great food options to consider!

Hi Jacqueline. So lovely to hear from you and thanks for your kind words. I’m glad that you have found the website helpful and that you are motivated to get going on the diet. Let me know if you have any more questions. I’m here to help! Kim

This is really great job you’ve done here, thank you. I am diagnosed with MS two months ago, and I changed my lifestyle emmidietly, stopped smoking, stopped eating meat and started practicing yoga everyday. I am still reading a lot and trying to find a diet that suites me the best, and I have a feeling this one is the real one. I would like to ask you what do you think about Noni juice? I have heard that my friend’s mother which has MS, is really satisfied how this juice helped her with her symptoms. I already ordered some, but I am not sure if I can see any difference because symptoms are really new to me, since I didn’t realize them before. Thank you very much!

Hi Dinah! Thanks for your lovely comment. Well done for being so proactive and completely changing your lifestyle. You do need to do some experimenting to see what works best for your body but just stick to the main underlying principles: no saturated animal fat, dairy, refined sugar and gluten. I have not heard of Noni juice. Let me know if you think it is worth trying out. Kim

Thank you so much for all of the useful information. I have been diagnosed for 3 years and have been on copaxone then rebif and recently tried the pill tecfidera which I could not tolerate. So I am now off all meds and looking for alternative treatments. I plan on starting this diet right away! I did have a question though: have you heard anything about Low Dose Naltrexone? I have been reading quite a bit about it and it sounds very promising.

Hi Kelly! Lovely to hear from you. Your story is so familiar. So many women have tried these medications and felt worse on them. They are now living symptom free only using food as treatment. It’s great that you are so motivated to get going. I have heard amazing things about LDN and I definitely think it is worth trying. I did look into it about a year ago but because my symptoms are quite stable, I haven’t persued it further.

I’ve been following the Best Bet Diet for the last 2 years with excellent results and this is very similar. However I’ve fallen off the wagon over the last couple of months and trying to get re-inspired and think this is the place to do it….!!

I understand the no beans and peas part but I’ve often wondered about beansprouts, pea shoots and pea pods? Could you advise please?

Hi Jo! It sounds like you are not a stranger to this way of eating. Falling off the wagon happens to us all! We just need to get back on and keep trying, everyday, to eat only that which is going to heal. I would say yes to pea shoots and pods but no to bean sprouts. You also just need to try them out and see the effect they have on you. Give up all legumes for 6 weeks and then reintroduce them. If you have no adverse reactions then it is very likely that you are not allergic and can carry on eating them. Try it out!

I would like to be on your e-mail. Do you have a condensed version of the diet?
This saves me writing it down when I go to the store. I have had M.S. for 45 years & this is all new to me. Very interesting & knowledgeable.
Thanks,

Hello Kim, I just found your Diet in the last two weeks. I have had MS for 35 years ! Swimming is the Best exercise for MS. Also Deep Water Running is very good also. My symptoms started Fall 1978, Lhermitts Sign. Then in 1981 Double Vision, then diagnosis. Started swimming 1983, got bored doing laps, took a Deep Water Jogging class in 1985, & that’s what I do in the pool along with exercises in the shallow end, that way no chlorine in my hair ! Had an attack on hands/arms 1982 which led me to start swimming. so if you know how to swim Start ! Oct. 2005, Feb. 2006 attack on R Leg & foot which left me with a Dropped foot. In 2011, I got a Bioness L300 for the Dropped Foot which stops me from falling. I did have to start using a Cane in 2010. Had another attack on R Leg & Foot in March 2012. Oh, I have been on Copaxone for the last 12 years also. I have tried the Swank Diet & and another one, but they are hard to follow. I drink unsweetened Almond Milk, eat alot of fruit and Veges. My family drinks alot of Iced Tea, so I use Decaf. Tea Bags, not too much sugar, I use the organic Sugar. I drink one cup of Decaf. Coffee a day,
but most of the time i can’t finish it. After you have MS as long as I have, U end up with an OAB Over-Active Bladder, Vitamin C irritates the Bladder so make sure in your Vitamin complex no more than 60 mg of Vit. C. I like your Diet ! Very encourgaging ! Oh, and make sure if you do start to swim, the
pool Water is not a Warm Therapeutic Pool ! I will try to follow your Diet !
Take Care ! Victoria
hope I didn’t talk too much !

Hi Victoria,
Your story sounds similar to mine as well, only I was diagnosed 2 years ago but my symptoms go back about 20, my GP was unable to join the dots… I find diet eliminates 60% of my symptoms: Lhermitte’s sign gone, slurred speech gone, loss of balance and lower leg weakness gone so long as I stick to it. I said previously I’ve fallen off the wagon for a while so these symptoms are coming and going depending on what I’ve been eating, but with a strict diet it’ll all be sorted again in 2 weeks..!!
Your story has inspired me, this whole site has inspired me so I’m starting back at the pool in the morning.
Jo

Hi Victoria! Lovely to hear from you! Thanks for telling us your story. You have had MS for quite a while so you must have a lot of wisdom to impart. It sounds like you managed to stay stable for quite a long time before you had the attack on your foot.You must be a healthy person for this to happen. Thanks for the advice about the Vit C and the pool. I look forward to chatting more in the community. It would be great if you posted your story there too! Kim

Kim, I need your expertise here. Whenever I’m in the produce section of a grocery store – I just start grabbing things, not paying much mind to the organic section… I’m sure you realize that sometimes it can be expensive to eat healthy, and it’s much easier on my wallet to select from the run of the mill sections! But heck, if I’m going to follow a diet like this, I should do it all the way… so tell me, the drawbacks of non-organic? Possible pesticides, hormones? Does it really make that much of a difference? What about these vegetable brushes I hear of? Also, without taking too much of your time – what are your thoughts on turkey breast(contains 0 saturated fat)? I might be over reaching here, but dark chocolate? I understand it is loaded with antioxidants. Thank you for your time, and keep up the great work. Great, great site. Bless you!

Hi there! Thanks so much for your lovely comments and for the great questions. The organic produce is important for all the reasons you talked about. It is great just to have the peace mind that you are not filling your body with any chemicals. You can get a vegetable brush that works pretty well on non-organic produce. Often, I can’t find everything that I want in the organic section but veggies like spinach, carrots and others that have close contact with the soil and are not protected by a thick skin are quite important to find organic options for. Turkey breast should be fine once a week. Dark chocolate does contain saturated fat so really keep it to an absolute minimum or try and cut it out altogether. Really hard, I know!

Hello,
I am 21 and I was diagnosed in 2010. I have changed my diet several times and still struggle with some things. But I was curious if you or anyone else feels the affects of food after you eat? Also, sometimes when I juice, the body parts that are a little numb feel as though I can’t really feel them. I’m not sure whether it’s apart of the healing or if I’m digging a bigger whole. Your advice would be deeply appreciated.
Thank you
-Z

Hi Z. Yes, if your body reacts negatively to food, you will feel it very shortly after you have eaten it. For instance, I feel quite spaced out, grumpy and very tired after eating gluten and sugar. As for juicing, this is strange to feel worse afterwards. It could just be your body detoxing. What are you juicing? I wonder if your body is reacting against the ingredients? Lets figure this out!

I have no problems with Gluten and think that it is not an issue for most people short of those actually diagnosed with Celiac disease. I also do not worry about legumes and consider them very healthy. In my opinion, all the whole grains and legumes I eat are exceptionally good for me.

Also regarding caffeine, there is some evidence that caffeine can slow MS (well, EAE in mice anyway). I won’t be giving up my 2 cups of coffee a day any time soon! There really is no consensus with caffeine, and it really helps with my fatigue.

Beyond those disagreements, this is an excellent article. I’ve been swanking since the beginning of the year. I am very, very careful with my fat intake. Whether it is helping with the MS or not (who knows), It has done wonders for how I feel and was worth all the work. Don’t kid yourself – its hard. But diet changes can really help you feel sooo much better. If you’re already saddled with MS like me, why wouldn’t you do everything you can control to feel better?

Hi Peter! Great that you can handle gluten and legumes. Some people just can’t and their symptoms definitely get worse. Caffeine is a stimulant that is not good for the CNS so just be careful with it and don’t have too much. Keep up your hard work! You are doing so well.

This is a great job you did here, thank you!!!
I was diagnosed with MS 3 months ago, I am reading your website really often, and trying to stick with this regime. It is only that I am still eating legumes, cause I find them as a great source of proteins.

I have few questions for you, if you have time to answer:

Is it OK to eat river fish as trout and perch?
What about the other sea fish as codfish and other?
What do you think about canned tuna?

And what about cooking with grape seed oil?

And the last question 🙂 – do you think is it OK to eat almond or hazelnut butter?

Thank you in advance for your answers.

I think positive thinking and healthy diet are key points for all of us, maybe we all can add some meditation and exercises as yoga or tai chi, put a smile on our faces, and everything must be all right! 🙂

Thanks you for your kind words! It sounds like you are really getting into this way of eating which is brilliant. River fish are fine to eat as are any other fish. I avoid seafood because of potential toxins. Canned tuna is fine every now and then but not too often as it may contain mercury. It is best if you cook with no oil and actually drizzle extra virgin olive oil over your food after you have cooked it. Nut butters are great but make sure they have been made with raw and not roasted nuts.

Yes, positive thinking is so important! Keep up your great work and brilliant attitude!

Hi Sunny! Goat milk is also dairy. It is has a slightly different structure but is still animal fat. Do you know that you can make your own almond milk? You just need almonds, water and a really good blender.

Hi Kim.
Well I should explain that it is actually my wife who has MS. Unfortunately she was diagnosed in October this year.Her name is Audra and we are still coming to terms with the diagnosis and we go for the MRI Monday 2nd Dec.I have tried your recipes and especially your juices we both find them very refreshing. I have re stocked our cupboards with all the food on your lists.THe sad story with my wife is that her older sister and brother have MS. Sadly her sister passed away 5 years ago and her brother is in a care assisted facility.Well I will sign off for now but I will keep you posted after we have the MRI and consulted with the MS specialists,but we are going to be positive and stay strong and we will keep on the MS diet,I thank you for this wonderful site Kim.Regards Steve And Audra.

Hi Stephen! It sounds like you and your wife have chosen to fight this disease. She doesn’t have to follow the same path as her siblings. If she adheres strictly to the diet and has very little stress, she has a great chance of living a normal life. How did her MRI go?

Hi Steve, just wanted to say you are obviously a great husband! i also come from an ms family — my mom had it my whole life and died when i was 13 but that was 1980 – no treatment, no mris, no anything! looking back, my guess is she really died of the flu and a very weak immune system. my older brother was diagnosed about 13 years ago and has done moderately well by most standards. he just got a bit of a limp last year and seems normal to the outsider in most other ways. he has gone through the gamut of ms drugs and they seem to have been helpful for him. to encourage you, i have taken a different path so far but was just diagnosed this summer. i am feeling great following the ms diet and have very few symptoms to manage and only mild fatigue at the end of the day, compared to the debilitating fatigue i had last spring. this really does help. :). it will be nice to figure out someday why it tends to run in families… you and audra will be in my prayers!

Hi Kim,
We haven’t had the MRI yet audras mother passed away on Monday 2nd Dec so we have been busy arranging the funeral and trying to get by. We have been re booked for 17th Dec so we are just hanging in there. Thank you for your reply it is very rewarding talking to you thank you.

Hi Kim, sorry its been a while but we have had a lot to deal with over the last couple of months but now Audra is back on the ms diet and with all our best intentions we will sick to it we found that Audra was feeling better in herself while she was following the diet but when things went really bad in December it was very difficult to focus on the diet. But now we have set some major goals in our life and that is staying on the ms diet and we are working at removing as much stress firm our lives as this does not help either. We love your blogs Kim so please accept a big load of hugs and kisses form us, speak soon.xxxxx

First off…. I am crazy about what you are doing for all of us!
Second…. I am not eating legumes and I just saw for the first time at the bottom of your post that red beans and jumping beans are not legumes. What type of red bean are you talking about? And what is a jumping bean? I am always interested in more protein in my diet.
Thanks again for filling my heart with strength and smiles.

I blog quite often and I truly thank you for your content.
The article has really peaked my interest. I will book mark your website and keep
checking for new details about once per week. I opted in for your RSS feed too.

Hello Kim:
I live in Asia and was diagnosed with MS one year ago.My doctor here extremely forbids MS patients to eat Shitake Mushroom and any Chinese herb. These food seems not mention in your website.What’s your suggestion?thank you~

Hi Gwen, lovely to hear from you. I think it is very interesting that your doctor has forbidden Shiitake mushrooms. I heard that they are very good for you and anti-inflammatory. Did he tell you why to avoid them? Not sure about Chinese herb. What is contained in it? How are you doing with your symptoms?

curious if you have any any opinion or experience with bee pollen. i was really sold on it for a while but havent thought about it since months before my diagnosis. any reason it may not go well with ms?

Hi Janita. I take a bee propolis supplement that I have found very good. My energy levels are high and I feel great. Notable amongst its properties are its antioxidant and anti-microbial action, its activity as a stimulant and its healing, analgesic, anesthetic and anti-inflammatory activity. I think it is worth going back to. It can’t hurt.

Hi Hanna! Wow, you are very newly diagnosed. Being a flight attendant is quite a tough job because,as you say, you are not home very often. You will need to make it work as best you can. Eat fish, salads, baked potatoes, ratatouille, veggies. Always carry a container full of nuts and dried fruit. This will keep your tummy full. I’m sure you can always get hold of lots of fruit wherever you are so this would be no problem. I know you can do it!

5 servings of fruit?That’s a lot of fructose. My doctor recommended no more than 3 per day. Also recommending potato (nightshade) wil trigger inflammation for me. Do you have an elimination protocol to see what else might cause inflammation?

Hi Kim,
Have spent a lot of time checking out your website, resources etc over the last few days, and am very impressed. I haven’t been diagnosed with MS, but have been ‘learning to live’ with a lot of MS like symptoms, over the past few mths. I have no doubt that inflammation is the key, and am really hoping that this diet will help to alleviate a lot of the symptoms – whatever is causing them. Am going to run it by my new GP this week. She seems to be speaking the same ‘language’, so I have a hunch she’ll give it the ‘thumbs up’….This all seems to be exactly what I’ve been looking for!…Thankyou!

I was surprised to see that you had eggs on the avoid list due to saturated fats, but not coconut oil. It also has saturated fats but is very good for you. My natural health practitioner has recommended eggs as an excellent source of protein, especially as they are from our own free range chickens.

Hi Tracey! Great to hear from you. The reason eggs are on the list is because some people just have an allergy to them. It is important that you rule this out before continuing to eat them. As for the saturated fat, this will only start becoming a problem if you eat loads of eggs. If you are not allergic to eggs then I would recommend only eating 2 a week. This is the advice I have been given. Coconut oil is a very different form of saturated fat because it has a vegetable source and it hasn’t been heated. Raw, organic coconut oil is actually a superfood and will feed your brain and add to the healing process. Hope this helps!

I have spent days researching food and what diet I should be following. I tried to do Dr. Terry Wahl’s’ diet but I cant afford the grass fed beef. Found Dr. Swanks’ diet last week. And I am starting to do it. Yesterday was my first day. Its a lot of vegetables to eat I don’t come anywhere near 3 cups per day but I am trying my best little by little. I don’t eat nuts and they are not on Wahl’s’ diet, I don’t miss them never liked them. Your website and diet is very helpful. I have spent the last 3 days researching the diet and the foods should be eating, only to open up the next website telling you not to eat the food the previous one said I was ok to eat. I had an exasperation last may, and I know I don’t ever want to have another one again. It left me wit a bad limb and I had to do pt until September to get rid of it. I know diet s the key to avoid enduring another exasperation. Thank you for all your effort in trying to help those of us suffering from MS

Hi Katherine! I understand your confusion. It is extremely unsettling when you are faced with so many diet advice contradictions all the time. There are a few different diets and all of them seem to be working for people at some level. I must say that I lean towards Swank because his advice has been backed up by so many years of research. Jelinek and the OMS diet has also confirmed that this diet works. Having said that, a lot more research has been added to his over the past few decades. It still reveals that animal protein and saturated fat is a no no for MS’ers (China Study) but it has also informed us to exclude gluten and refined sugar. This is what my diet is based on, solid and rigorous research. You also need to find out what works for you and then stick to it and not be swayed by what others are purporting. By the way, fruit is fine. Some are saying that it needs to be avoided. This is not true. Does this help at all?

I recently got an MRI and plaque on my brain was found and MS was suspected. I am in the early stages of understanding everything; however, I have started to get pins and needles, numbness etc.
Been researching on the internet and trying to understand what to eat. It is VERY confusing as you mentioned some things are contradictory.
I have been doing olive oil and lemon with my salad. Haven’t had any problems with the lemon. Is your choice based on research with MS or preference on citrus?
Thanks for writing all of this. I will study it more intensely when I have more time. All the best to you. Please let me know your thoughts on the above. Thanks 🙂

It’s a pity you don’t have a donate button! I’d certainly donate to this brilliant blog!
I suppose for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed
to my Google account. I look forward to fresh updates and
will talk about this site with my Facebook group.
Chat soon!

Hi Deb. Thanks for getting in touch. Being newly diagnosed is very overwhelming and yes, very scary! It takes time to adjust to this new information about yourself. The important thing to remember is that you are still you. That will never change. You just have an extra challenge to manage now. Changing your diet can help you to feel in control of your MS. It really does help to manage symptoms. I would love to chat further and would highly recommend that you join up to the community to chat with many other women who have MS and receive weekly meal plans and recipes. Kim

Thanks for this link Sonia. It is good to question findings like these. I do still feel that there is a lot if truth in that we, as a society, are consuming way too much animal protein and bad fats. This is why heart disease is the number one killer. We all need to be moving towards a plant based diet. Kim

Kim! You have done a wonderful job by compiling this MS diet. I got answers to a lot of questions I had about a healthy MS diet that should be taken. Have bookmarked your site and will definitely come back for more 🙂 God Bless you

Thank you Kim, I am so grateful for your website. It’s very informative and calming. I’ve used your recommendations and have changed my diet and added some additional supplements. You come across so upbeat and positive, this is a wonderful place to come

That’s great Rebecca! I’m really happy that you have been able to gain something from, the site. Yes, I have to stay positive. So important to keep your mind strong. Eating well helps you to feel happier and stronger and when you are in a good state of mind, you will natural make better choices with your food. It’s a great cycle to be in! The challenge is to keep your self there 🙂 Keep up the good work with your diet! Kim

Hi, I love the work you are doing and thanks alot for all the hard work and effort you put in, I am really sorry that i will be taking a bit of your time as i am really confused, I am 20, So basically I went for an MRI around 1 and half year ago for a lump in my neck but everything came normal and they some how did MRI for my head aswell, neck came completely normal but they found some white spots in the brain, neurologist was confused as I never had any symptoms other than minor tingling but every other test came normal, they did lumber puncture test by testing the fluid in spine and that came normal aswell, but before they did the lumber puncher i had an attack which they thought was bells palsy, left side of my face and body was little paralyzed and they gave oral steroid(pretanzone) and i fully recovered in around 10 days, i had double vision and numbness in legs and arms after that and recently had optic neuritis (1.5 months ago) and has almost recovered to normal without any drug or anything, neurologist was confused so he assumed that it is MS looking at the symptoms, the weird thing is I never had any problem before that and now suddenly things happened, My diet has always been normal but I did use drink nearly at least a litre of milk everyday and eat roti which is made up of wheat being an Indian, I completely changed my diet after optic neuritis but I am really really confused, I find it little hard as all web sites have different information, So I’ll start with these question, being an Indian we eat wheat roti everyday(usually 3 for dinner), would it effect if i just eat one in the whole day? I have stopped drinking milk and drinking soy/almond/rice milk now, i never had any problem with gluten and dairy and finding it hard to go gluten and dairy free as there aren’t much gluten free food around, I do eat brown rice instead of roti now, the other thing I read was that Dr. Terry Wahls says is to eat organ meat? and i read somewhere to eat grass fed red meat but same time other websites says not to eat it at all, what do you recommend, I am eating chicken and fish now, but can I have lamb once a week? some websites say eat whole grain where as some says not to eat grains at all? what about grains? which ones are good? also i read some sites say not to take soy but what about soy milk? ae their any other grains or flours that you recommend i should use for roti? like chick pea flour? corn flour(makki) ? any other flour? also I have been gyming and apparently you can’t take whey/ isolate protein as it contains dairy? do you recon i can take isolate protein or any other protein supplement for gym like creatine? also I don’t eat fried food but incase if i feel like having, what sort of oil shall i fry it in? is rice bran oil alright? So can i not have wheat, gluten or dairy at all even in little amount even if i don’t feel alergic to it? and maybe a treat like 2 pizza slice once a week? thanks and sorry that i asked too many questions.

Love to hear from you!It sounds like you are a bit overwhelmed by all the contradictory info you are coming across. It’s confusing isn’t it? You are so young to be diagnosed. Can I just ask you, how soon after your MRI did your paralysis and numbness start? I’m going to try and answer your questions. let me know if I don’t answer some.

Yes, you need to make gluten and sugar free roti. Any gluten free flour will do: Rice, corn, buckwheat.
Well done for cutting out dairy
Oil for cooking: coconut oil is best. Never heat extra virgin olive oil but use it cold and raw on your food after you have cooked it.
Avoid all red meat and chicken if you can.
Fish is fine
Grains such as rice and quinoa are fine
Soy milk and products are also not the best
No pizza for you

The healthier you eat, the more you will feel it if you eat something unhealthy. At the moment, your body is still used to these things but they will start causing problems.
Eat as many fresh veggies and fruit as you can.

Hi Kim,
First of all, you and your diet is super awesome, thank you so much for that, thanks for the reply, I need to double check but i think it was after like 2-3 months when that paralysis/numbness came, i did use to get tingling before in feet at times, also sometimes jerk in neck and flying black/silver dots for a second or 2, when i was like 5 or 6 i had an accident and maybe a seizure which came in ECG at that time, and they gave dilantin for one or 2 years but that was back in India where doctors usually do it to make money, then they did scan again and everything came fine and now this in MRI, i got another MRI done after 2-3 months overseas for a piece of mind and they both were same with the white spots in it and neurologist was really confused because everything seemed perfect other than that MRI but then symtoms/attacks started occuring and now they think that it is MS, i went for catch up check up in regards to the optic neuritis I had nearly 2 months ago and i rejected the IV and oral steroids and wanted natural recovery, eye has recovered like 75-80% and they checked optic muscle fibre and it has decreased alot and is under/near border line now, pretty worried with all this happening as I am young and was perfecly fine and now all of sudden all this happening.
I have completely stopped red meat but i read under paleo diet that grass fed organ meat is apparently good, so I am confused on this?
i do try to keep saturated fat as low as possible probably under 15-20g a day.
I eat skinless chicken breast around 4 times a week and fish 2-3 times a week.
it’s really hard to make roti/tortilla from black or white millet without adding either wheat or clarified oil(ghee) so it would be awesome if you have any other alternatives? like chickpea flour maybe or corn flour(makki) but people usually mix wheat flour with it, so any idea or recipes for that?
are egg white fine? if yes in what quantity?
what other item can i take instead of dairy free soya milk or soya yogurt and icecream? it’s hard to get much here in NZ.
Are oats fine? what about wheat free pure Oat meal?
are soy fine? things like soy milk, soy protein, soy sauce?
like I am gyming now, is use of creatine fine? and what type of protein can I take? i started whey and it felt good but apparently it contains dairy alot, so which one would you recommend? is soy or isolate protein alright? and also what sort of flours can i use to make tortilla or roti, please link me any recipes if you have some? and can i eat bananas and oranges?

ALSO I WAS READING UNDER SWANKS DIET THAT WHOLE GRAINS ARE GOOD? SO I AM CONFUSED ON THAT BIT BECAUSE IT SAYS WHOLE WHEAT BEARD IS ALLOWEDhttp://www.swankmsdiet.org/About%20The%20Diet
I AM REALLY HAPPY AND SATISFIED WITH YOUR DIET BUT I FIND NOT EATING EVEN 1 WHEAT ROTI A DAY REALLY HARD BUT I AM DOING IT ANYWAYS. Thank you so much for everything, i am taking alot of your time by asking too many questions but i am really worried being so young.
kind regards
jd

Hi and God bless you firs of all. Back to your response yes I do have faith. Praise God for that too. That’s the reason I’m still able to walk cause according to my neurologist I should be bed ridden. It hasn’t all been easy on the contrary It’s been a very hard walk but it’s been well worth it. When I first got diagnosed with ms it was about 18 years ago ( had already been having symptoms about 5 years prior) but I didn’t know what that was, I had never heard of that. I just thought it was some sort of bug. I found out like ten years ago when I was waking up to call my kids to go to school and I couldn’t walk to their beds. That’s when I started searching. But at my lowest God was with me. Regardless of what I was going through, I decided to say what God said not what I saw that I was healed even though I could not walk. Praise God for everything. My faith has grown because of this. Anyways I started homeschooling about 5 years ago. Everything I do is through God’s grace. He is my provider in all I do. My symptoms now are minimal. I do exercise 3 days a week now. Thank you so much for responding. God bless you.

Yes I am walking, Praise God. I recently read this story of this Dr. that got diagnosed with ms in 2010. Her life got turned around with her diet. It’s worth looking into. By the way do you or someone you know have ms?
God Bless,

Green vegetables used to supply magnesium, but the US soil has been depleted of this vital nutrient since the time when industrialized farming with petroleum fertilizers. Mg deficiency is more than common in our population. Yes, there is Mg in nuts and seeds, but the recommended “handful a day” will not meet your need for Mg. I personally take 1000 mg/day as a supplement with twice that amount of Ca.

I do not have MS. My grand-daughter is currently being diagnosed for MS; they have not made a final determination at this point.

Also, there are concerns about salmon for two reasons: much of it today is farmed and has been treated with antibiotics because the fish are crowded to increase the yield and they sicken from the concentration of their waste in their “pens”. Secondly, salmon are predators in the wild, and so they concentrate the heavy metals present in their prey in their own flesh. Consumers must educate themselves about which fish do what to make wise decisions about diet.

Nutrient lists are suspect. People still believe that raisins are a good source of iron. Grapes are not, so why would raisins be? Grapes used to be dried into raisins in iron baskets! These days, the baskets are plastic; raisins are not now a “good source of iron”. And the type of iron one gets from an iron basket is not a good nutritive element anyway; you might as well suck on a mail.

Find sources of information about nutrition that are not commercial and beware of taking supplements that are not made by respected suppliers… respected by authorities which have earned the trust of people who have YOUR best interest at heart, not their own.

While I do not have MS, I recovered from Congestive Heart Failure with cardio-myopathy and an ejection fraction of 10%; that was in 2003. I repaired my heart with diet. I am no longer on any heart medications. Liver and other organ meats, heart for example, are the best sources of iron, iron that you can use to support your heart and organs.

I was very interested and excited to find that your diet is very much like my own. My sincere best wishes for you and your readers who are working to live full lives in good health.

Hi Gina! Wow, thanks for such a wealth of information. I agree that it is very difficult to find foods that have the levels of nutrients they are purported to have. We really have to find excellent and reliable sources which often means more expense. It is, however, worth all the money in the world to be heathy though! I hope that things become clear for your grand daughter soon. She is blessed to have you as her grandmother. You really can help her with her eating. All the best to you and your lovely family!

Hi Jelena! Good question. You are completely right. It’s best to eat nuts and seeds raw. They lose their goodness and the body can’t absorb them properly if they have been heated. Can you sprinkle them on afterwards when you serve the pie?

Hi Kim,
I appreciate all your efforts in maintaining this blog and this MS diet webpage. I have an appointment tomorrow morning with the Neurologist. My third after finding lesions with the MRI (and many test). No conformation about MS, but after researching online and library book sources the unseen symptoms are mostly present.
I have been peri-menopausal for many years and believe these symptoms were related to hormonal fluctuations. Now, I hope to apply and adhere to your diet suggestions and try your recipes.
Have you tried smoothies and juicing with a high speed blender to increase intake of all the fruit and veggies? I have been a vegetarian most of my life and eating raw foods is very time consuming as one must chew and chew. I guess the downside is all the fiber from not leaving the pulp in the typical juicer.

Hi Maria! Great to hear from you. Yes, smoothies are wonderful. One a day is essential! I have spoken to many women who find that their symptoms increase or suddenly become noticeable around the time of menopause. It does seem that hormonal fluctuations have a lot to do with that. Eating well and exercising will help to keep everything stable. I really hope you get some clarification on your symptoms soon! In the mean time, eat as healthily as you can. Keep us posted! Kim

Kim,
Loved this site and your approach to diet seems just right for me.y

I was diagnosed with M.S in 2009 and followigf various tests etc,.
The medical team suggested that I have had it for over 20 years.
Did suspect but ignored, at times I did fall, suffered with dreadful bouts of fatique and ‘cog fog’.
My way of dealing with some of the above was to over load with jellies thinking I had low blood sugar, and in doing this meant that I was not absorbing the nutrients in food.

i have been vegetarian for 30 years,, eating chicken occasionally and eating fish.

In relation to the M.S the medics suggest its benign and relate this to a healthy diet and my regular exercise regime.
Now in my late 50s I have retired from social work (too stressful for M.S.
ad have tried to engage in eating foods that you suggest are our aids to wellness.
Also studying Tcm its wonderful and learning so much.

Would so wish to meet with you sometime,do want to learn so much more about the disease and congrdulate you on this generous journey travelling the road with all of us.
Empowering us to embrace choosing the path of fueling our bodies with the goodnesss that it deserves.

Can I ask about polenta can that be used as a gluten free product for porridge.

My favourite desert/treat is cooked pureed corn with grass jelly, pureed cooked beetroot (1 tablespoon of tofu and one cooked beet)
makes a lovely mouse, cooked/peeled//mashed then frozen and when required puree it makes an interesting ice cream with a little lemon juice.

Hi Breda
I’m so happy to hear from you and glad that your approach is the same as mine. I love this way of eating. Really makes me feel amazing and there is so much variety. I feel like there is a whole world of meal possibilities just waiting to be discovered. It sounds like you have managed your MS so well and are healthy as a result. Well done, that’s amazing!

Good that you have also given up your stressful job. This can make things get worse very quickly.
I would also love to meet with you. Are you based in the UK?

Yes, polenta is great and your treat idea sounds very yummy. I have never heard of grass jelly! Keep well and we’ll catch up soon!
Kim

I just stumbled upon your blog while doing a little research on MS and Omega 3 and 6. Not sure if anyone else asked in the comments, but you mentioned having green barley every morning. I was under the impression that barley is/contains gluten…is that incorrect? Is green barley different? Thanks for your wonderful and informational blog!

Hi Stacey! great to hear from you. Barley Green is made from the leaves of the barley plant which do not have any gluten in them. Gluten is only found in the grain that the plants produce. So, it’s safe! BarleyLife has been amazing for me. I cannot live without it. It cleanses my body and feeds my cells at the start of the day which makes for a great start!

Hi there. I have had MS for six years. I was wondering if you experienced a detox symptoms when you started eating this way? I tried eating Vegan and I had bad detox symptoms. I almost couldn’t walk. I would love your feedback. Thank you!!!

Hi Stephanie
I actually didn’t experience any detox symptoms but many women have reported that they feel worse before they feel so much better. Yes, there is definitely a detox process that happens after you start the diet. The body is finally given the opportunity to get rid of the toxic waste that has been lying round for years. You don’t feel so good as it is released into your blood stream.

Hi Kim,
I’m so confused about saturated fats. I was first introduced to an MS diet through the Autoimmune Protocol which stresses the importance of grass-fed red meat, and even animal organs like heart and liver. Dr. Terry Wahl’s agrees, but i know Dr. Swank says the opposite. Why did you decide to eliminate saturated fats?

Hi, thank you for giving me some information that I feel will allow me to help myself. I’m a natural fixer and whenever there’s a problem if there’s something I can do to fix the it then I cope better. I have only just been diagnosed two weeks ago and I was recommended to read your website by my nurse (who I think knows you personally). I’d initially told her I didn’t want to know anything about MS but she told me yours was good and full of practical advice. She was certainly right and I’m grateful to you for giving me something to work on which won’t entirely fix the problem but will change how it progresses.

First, I would like to refer my special thanks for the tremendous support you are offering through this site to all of us!

I signed up lately and so far have not had the chance to present myself. My name is Lusine Movsesyan and I was born in Armenia. 4 years ago I got married to a wonderful person from Canada and immigrated to Montreal. After a very tough pregnancy in June 2013 (I had hyperemesis gravidarum and spent all 9 months in bed) I started experiencing MS-like symptoms. Fortunately, my MRI done in October 2013 came back clear and they diagnosed me with post-partum depression only. However, I keep on having eyeseight complains, back numbness and other muscle weaknesses, thinking problems, etc. And it’s been already 3 months that I do follow the MS diet to be on the safe side.

I have prepared one question for you, dear Kim. I have heard a lot about chicory root to replace the caffeine and would like to know if it is recommended for MS patients.

I would highly appreciate your response.

Thank you one more time dear Kim for your dedication to our well-being and the overall support shown to each of us through this wonderful blog!

Hi Kim,
I started the diet you recommend two weeks ago and was shocked at how quickly I felt better. In particular I had been finding walking to be very painful but within 24 hours my legs felt more relaxed and less painful. I can now walk easily for several blocks. I’m adding a block a day. I just began the vitamins a few days ago and are hoping to continue to see improvement.

Hi Leigh! This is all music to my ears. I’m so happy to hear that you have seen improvements since you started the diet. Hope you have even more improvements in your symptoms! Keep up the great work. Kim

Hi Kim – I’ve been d/n with ms 2011 Thanks for you website. I’ve read both the Swank and Wahl’s book. I have to say I’ve lost about 25lbs. I weigh 115 lbs now. My problem is walking. I can walk but need a walker or cane. Love to walk normal w/o anything like before. I’m on Copaxone and Ampyra which seem to keep my mri stable. Which is Great (Praying to get better, in his hands). But I’m in good spirits. After reading Wahl’s book, I just can’t get my nerves up to eat organ meat (liver, brain, and kidneys) !!!! Do you have any other suggestions? I believe The Lord can heal and/or we can be a testimony ! But eating organ meat would be really tough for me!!! God Bless you!!!

Hi Kim
Sounds like you have done a radical lifestyle change. Well done to you! I agree that organ meat is just not appealing and some of it could be toxic. The liver is like the junction for toxins as the body decides to store or get rid of them.
I can understand how much you would love to just walk normally, as you did before your relapse. I believe you can get these functions back. I would recommend a raw food diet for a week or two to start. You can use loads of good oils (flaxseed, EV olive oil), eat nuts and avocado to prevent further weight loss. There are loads of amazing raw food recipes as well! You can even eat raw chocolate!

Then move onto cooked veggies, rice, quinoa and fish. Still with most of your diet being raw.

Hi Kim, yes Thanks! I forgot to mention that I have rrms.Have another question for you, what can you eat for breakfast? Can you eat organic steel oats instead of roll? Any other suggestions? Thanks again! Kim. Oh, GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

Hi Kim,
I was diagnosed in April of 2011, at the age of 51. Had symptoms around 6 years before that. I have foot drop on the right side, and walking is very difficult for me. I have to use my scooter in all stores, and walker or cane at home. I started out on Copaxone injections for 2 years, but my health was continuing to decline and had two flare ups during those two years. My doctor decided that Copaxone wasn’t working for me and put me on Extavia Injections in May. That was the biggest mistake to date. Extavia made me have flu like symptoms and fevers. When I get fevers, I can’t walk at all. The right leg is completely useless. I decided to stop the injections. My Neuro doesn’t know yet, as she will just prescribe me yet another drug. I am going too give my body 4 months eating heathly and see what happens. I ordered the Wahls Protocol book and started her diet July 30th. That’s the day I also started riding my exercise bike every day. Some days I can only do 5 minutes, other days I can do up to 22 minutes. I found your site through looking around the internet and have read all about your findings. I totally agree that we can get better through diet. I have had 5 different Neurologists tell me this isn’t so and not proven. Well I have gone down hill in the last three years on DMD’s, so now I am determined to live a healthier lifestyle and forgo the M.S. drugs. I already feel better mentally, the fog has lifted. Can’t wait to see what happens over the next few months. I will see my Neuro in November. Hopefully my M. S. symptoms will lessen by then and I can tell her I’m done with the DMD’s. Thanks for this site and all the work you put into it. I’ve made your cashew cream sauce and oh my was it ever good. Hubby loved it also. Can’t wait to make some more of your recipes.

Hi Kim,
thanks for the valuable advice offered on this website. I was diagnosed just a month ago as RR, after 20 days of cortisone I will begin shortly with interferon, I know it will not be easy but as a medical student, as soon I was hospitalized I started immediately reading hundreds of publications on pubmed and medical journals, until I started to explore the issue “diet” (no neurologist gave me any advice or recommendation), and finally I came to your site! After a moment of great despair in which I was afraid of losing the use of my legs, I realized that my lifestyle, my diet, my stress and anxiety are all an unhealthy mix that could only have a negative impact on my life, and the only way to better address the disease couldn’t be than a radical change. My diet consisting of sugars, carbohydrates, and black tea has changed from day to day in a radical way, of course, it was not easy but after two weeks actually I feel better, my left leg feel stronger and can to do everything I did before, I walk and I stand for hours even if with difficulty and I try to manage my university stress in a more rational way… I wanted to thank you for spreading your work, so that everyone can have a reference for such a radical and important chance. There is no cure, there is no fate, and each of us can only try to do the best for her/himself and the people she/he loves, and this seems the only logical way. Lastly, I wanted to let you know that from all this experience I was able to reflect on what will be my profession, be a doctor, because I realized that in our studies the question of diet and nutrition is not considered enough, and all that we simply tell to patients is to maintain a balanced diet consisting of meat, carbohydrates, cheese, fruits, legumes and vegetables (I live in northern Italy near the Alps and as you can imagine diet consists of butter, meat, cheese, gluten, fats, sweets, cakes and pastries…good for taste but not so healthy at all!).
Thanks again and best regards.

Hi Mara
Thank you so much for sharing your inspiring story with us. You are a testament to the power of food to heal. So amazing that you felt such drastic difference after only 2 weeks on the ms diet. A huge well done to you for being brave enough for making the change even in the face of the medical community. I’m so glad to hear that you are going to be one of those doctors who carefully considers diet and lifestyle as treatments for disease, not just drugs. We need so many more doctors who think this way, in the world. I was also very shocked that my Neuro gave no attention to my diet and lifestyle. Neurologists all over the world are robbing people with MS of the chance to live symptom free.

Keep up the good work! You will find it easier and easier and more enjoyable as you get used to eating this way.

You are also very blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the world.

I found out Oct. of 2013 I was diagnosed with relapsing/remitting ms at age of 14. I went 32 yrs of not knowing and fighting thru all the pain and aggravation. I’m just starting out looking at different diets. Urs seems like the best one I’ve found.

Hi Kimberly! Lovely to hear from you. Goodness, that’s a long time to go without being able to put a name to what you are going through. Diet is key. It’s basically just cutting out all the junk and processed foods and focusing on the alive, nutritious and energy giving ones. Let me know if I can help at all.

This website has become like a bible for me. I was diagnosed in 2009, but only had very mild symptoms that came and went. It wasn’t until this last year the symptoms became more serious and more frequent, and I started taking this seriously. I have been on an anti-inflammatory paleo diet for the last 3 months, and using this website to help me navigate what I can eat and what I can’t. I have lost 20 pounds, I have a ton of energy, I am now exercising daily, amd I feel great. I am healthier than I have probably ever been. I am a firm believer in the medicinal value of food. Thanks again!

Hi Eryn! It makes me so happy to hear how well you are doing. This way of life actually works! It’s a pity that so many people are still suffering with medication when there is a much better way to treat MS. Keep up the great work with your diet and keep inspiring other women to do the same. Kim

Hi Kim! What a blessing your website is! This will definitely help me. Thank you for all the research you’ve done and shared on here! I have had RRMS for 5 years now. I have mostly been fighting it through diet and did take LDN between pregnancies. I want to start being more serious about my diet, so the MS diet will def. help with that. 🙂

Hi Sarah! Lovely to hear from you. I’m so happy that you feel the MS diet is going to help. Great that you have managed to avoid meds. I’m very interested to know how LDN has helped you? Some people have had amazing results. It is definitely my back up!
Eating this way does take a bit of getting used to but it is so worth it. It’s just amazing how much better you feel if you stick to it 100%. Sometimes hard though! Chat to you soon and let me know if I can help with anything else.

I was diagnosed with CLIPPERS (Chronic Lymphocetic Inflammation of the Perivascular Pons with Enhancements Reduced with Steroids) four years ago. The nickname for this by some is “MS’s Weaker Sister.” I am about to go off steroids and remain solely on Cell Cept and want my diet to help my condition and meds as much as possible. I do yoga daily and pay pretty close attention to my diet. I am learning as I go. liz (aka diz liz)

Hi Liz! Good to hear from you. I have never heard of CLIPPERS but it does sound like it would be responsive to the MS diet. Great that you do yoga and are careful with what you eat. This will all help so much. Stay in touch!

There is so little known about clippers. It does not even make the global rare disease list. There are maybe 100 known cases world-wide. So, you can imagine we are all guinea pigs. It used to be most common among 45-75 year olders. Not any more. Now, young teenagers and adults are susceptible. I believe this says something about the junky food out there. liz

Hi – thanks so much for the info. You mention you don’t eat chicken, but this is one thing I’m not quite ready to give up – do you see a noticeable difference when you eat? Natural, boneless, skinless chicken doesn’t have saturated fat – and a few other MS diets have chicken as a ‘increase’ food instead of limit – would love to hear your thoughts. Thanks!!

Hi Julie! If you feel that you still need to eat chicken then that is fine but keep it to a minimum (1-2 times a week) and only eat organic. Very important as other chicken pumped full of hormones which can really have an impact on MS. I avoid all animal protein not only because of the saturated fat but because it is pro inflammatory and will leave an acidic residue on your blood. These are conditions for disease to flourish. Also, eat loads of green food which will bring your blood ph back to alkaline. All the best to you!

Thank you for all the info. My soon to be daughter in-law turned me on to your site, she is a dietician. I was recently diagnosed in May 2014 after 2 years of battling the unknown. I have been trying hard to eliminate gluten and to watch all the other triggers. Not easy but can definetly see a difference when I don’t watch. So thank you for this site and I will definetly follow along.

Hi Connie! Great to hear from you. It must have been a tough 2 years and it must be good to put a name to your symptoms. It’s always good to know what’s going on so that you can fight it! Sounds like you are on the right track. Watch refined sugar and dairy very carefully too. Looking forward to staying in touch. Kim

Hi , I’m newly diagnosed and still fortunate enough to have very limited experience with symptoms , however I do lead an unhealthy lifestyle and am very aware I’m pushing my luck and Realy want to start giving myself the best possoble chance . I don’t take meds ( the side effects outweigh my symptoms at the moment ) so I’m keen to start on a healthy diet lifestyle however iv never been very knowledgable on food and eat very basic and man made good that I intend to cut out . Your site seems great but I must admit I did get a little overwhelmed (I’d never even heard about a lot of those foods listed never mind used them) so could you provide me with a few simple rules I can follow ? While I get to get grips with it all ? Would I be on track if I ruled out all gluten – diary and wheat or have I read to much into it . I’ want to be all in and I’m the type of person who can commit if I know what structure to follow but will struggle if I’m only half in . Sorry for the long message

Hi Toni! Thanks for your comment and for telling me your story. I’m glad that you are having a closer look at your diet and changing what needs to be changed. A few simple rules to follow:
No gluten
No dairy
No refined sugar
No red meat and preferably no chicken
Preferably no legumes or alcohol
Keep eggs to a minimum (1-2 per week)

Stick to natural, unprocessed food. Lots of salads, fruit smoothies, raw juices, roasted or steamed veg, Fish and nuts. You can also have treats such as cacao, maple syrup.

Thank you , yes that helps a lot. I’m currently trying to educate myself further on food as iv always been guilty of just ” if it tastes nice , il eat it ” without truely understanding it’s contents , so I’m sure it will get easier the more understanding I have but in the mean time following your guidelines will help a great deal .

I am trying to work out whether rice bran oil is goody MS. I love to roast potato, red potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions, pumpkin. I probably use too much oil but it is good to get me to eat veggies.

Hi Kate, it seems that rice bran oil is one of the healthier oils but I wouldn’t recommend heating it to high temperatures. I think coconut oil is quite robust and you can heat it so if you must cook with an oil, I think coconut oil is best.

For veggies, I would recommend that you lightly sauté or steam them in water and then drizzle cold, extra virgin olive oil over them once they are cooked. This is very tasty and much better for your body.

Thank you for sharing all your information with us. I get so frustrated sometimes I wanna scream. I can’t wait to feel better and I feel like this way of eating will get me there do you have a sample food menu I could follow to get started? Thank you for helping us with this battle. That’s very kind& unselfish of you to try to help others with this battle God bless you hope to talk soon. Linda

Hi Nicole, you’re looking for vegetables that contain omega 3 and protein? Nuts are amazing for good fats and protein. Flaxseed oil is one of the best sources of Omega 3. Avocado is also a source of good fats. Just make sure that you take a Vit B12 supplement – the methylcobalamin type.

Kim,
Could I have carob powder in place of chocolate? Also, I was taking acacia fiber for my IBS….now I see from your list that it in not good for MS. I am a bit frustrated…because I have a tough time figuring out what to eat…plus I have pre-diabetes but not on meds. I was told that I had a lot of mercury in my blood so no more salmon for me….only sardines and small fish occasionally. Had 60 lesions on my brain scan last year..now there are 120 and I am getting horrible left sided headaches, as though there is a sharp object going through my eye and I end up with a bad migraine type headache. I am running out of ideas of how to prepare and what to eat at each meal. Chicken seems the only thing left to eat…and eggs, as far as animal protein. I would really like to do a vegan diet…but not sure if I will have enough choices to replace animal protein.

Hi Andrea, yes carob should be ok if you are not allergic to legumes. Carob actually belongs to the legume family. It sounds like you are in a difficult place at the moment. Your headaches sound awful. I’m so sorry that you have to endure this. I do think you should go vegan. You need a very anti-inflammatory diet. I would even advise you to eat only raw food for a week and see if that helps. Lots of smoothies, raw juices and salads. You can fill up on nuts. You can even make delicious raw pesto. Do you use flaxseed oil? Have you thought of signing up for my weekly meal plans? You’ll get ideas on what to prepare for every meal and there are loads of ideas for raw meals as well. Let me know if you are keen and I’ll send you a 40% discount code. I would still say that you would be fine to have salmon once a week. Salmon is not as badly as affected as other fish like tuna. How about sea bass? Chat to you soon! Kim

Thank you sooo much for sharing your information & inspiration. I was diagnosed with MS 10/28/14 after an exacerbation left me semi-paralyzed. It was if I had cerebral palsy. Everything went numb from my neck down. The neurologist tells Me my case is very bad since the lesions are in my neck and that I’ll be paralyzed from my neck down. I’m 6’1 & athletic. I felt this news was my death sentence. I’ve been researching & found diet has almost everything to do with it.
I was vegetarian/ vegan for 9yrs. Last year i starting eating the s.a.d. diet & moved to Dallas 4yrs ago. It seems heat is a trigger. So the heart in combination with my new food choices woke up this gene that had been dormant.
My research in combination with your site have me the hope to go vegan again. I’ve been on a juice fast for 15days. I’m walking again, and and almost my old self. My hands are still numb but everything takes time. I’ve only done the i.v. steroids followed by 2weeks of steroids oral. I’ve refused the Rebif. Diet , attitude & God’s grace will keep me safe.

Thank you for taking us on your journey. Knowledge is key.
In light & love,
Jawne

Hi Jawne! Your story is nothing short of miraculous. To be given that kind of prognosis and now to be walking again is incredible. Lesions can heal, especially on an anti-inflammatory diet. Yes, vegan is great. I would still recommend eating fish for the omega’s. Be careful of sugar and gluten because they can also cause flareups. Many vegan products contain these nasties. You have a positive attitude which is also very helpful for healing. Yes, knowledge is this the key! I would love to publish your story on the blog. Would you like to write a short post sharing it? Please email me on [email protected] if you are interested. Have a lovely day! Kim

I’m really enjoying the theme/design of your weblog.
Do you ever run into any browser compatibility problems? A handful of my blog audience have complained about my site not operating
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Hi 🙂 Finding your site very helpful. Just as I have found the SCD site helpful for my Crohns, The Inflammation Diet, and the Healing by Bee for candida… all helpful. That’s the problem. Lol Did well with SCD after very small amount of inflammation found following a colonoscopy 16 yrs ago. Had babies and “fell of the wagon”. Developed some new symptoms since 2010 that describe MS, vitamin deficiency, GERD… etc No formal MS diagnosis yet and I may never because I am choosing to jump back in the wagon to be free of all of my symptoms. Beginning with a yeast protocal with meds while eliminating the main triggers. I wish I could combine all three diets into one, with yours being the closest to a ‘combo’ diet. There are somethings one permits that another doesn’t and visa versa. I do feel nervous. For instance, no starches on SCD, no honey on Candida diet, no meat on MS… all while I want to do a safe whole body cleanse to make my organ and digestive system happy again. Any thoughts on any of this?? Thanks in advance. 🙂

Hi Joanne! It sounds like you have a few issues that you need help with. The good news is that one diet will help them all! I think that it is very important to consider your candida in all of this. So yes, avoid all sugar including honey, maple syrup and the sweet fruits like apples, mango, banana, papaya, citrus. Berries are great though so keep eating them. I would recommend a berry smoothie with almonds, spinach and almond milk – delicious. Take a very good probiotic and I would even say find pure aloe juice. Very healing for the gut.
Very important to avoid gluten and I would say that you should replace meat with fish. Dairy is also important to avoid. So what will you be eating? You can have:
All veggies
berries
nuts
rice
sweet potatoes
fish
quinoa

See how you go with legumes. Some people are fine with them and they are a good source of protein and fibre.

In terms of a cleanse, I would recommend eating raw food for a week and seeing how you feel on that. Let me know if you have any more questions!

Coconut oil is still very controversial but after doing a ton of research on it I have come to the conclusion that it is a healthy saturated fat that the body actually needs for healing and reconstruction. It doesn’t behave in the same way as animal saturated fat. I have written a comprehensive post on the topic if you would like to understand my reasoning further: http://www.msdietforwomen.com/ms-diet-coconut-oil-controversy

I was just diagnosed. Haven’t started any treatment plan or meds yet. I have been through so many tests in past 4 yrs and pretty much told my neurologist I needed a brain MRI because I was worried about having MS. He didn’t think I did but humored me. You really have to be your advocate.
Thank you for this site. It really made me think about alternatives to just taking drugs.

Hi Laurie. Thanks for getting in touch and telling me your story. Amazing that your Neuro didn’t think to give you an MRI first! What were your symptoms? Yes, changing your diet and adding supplements is the first thing you need to do. Important to go and get your nutrient levels tested to see if you are deficient in anything too. Let me know if you need to chat further. You can drop me an email: [email protected]

This week I started with these awesome muscle spasms. They are crazy wicked and last anywhere from I would say 15 to 30 seconds and during that time it’s like my limbs are paralyzed. I have them happen most often when I first wake up in the morning and then later in the late afternoon early evening. Mostly when I’m going from a sitting or laying down position to standing. Have you or anybody else gone through this and did you find something that helps relieve you outside of seizure meds that the doctor wants me to go on??

Hi Kaye. That doesn’t sound pleasant at all. Yes, I have heard of this happening. I actually have one lady who I have recently coached who lives with muscle spasms on a daily basis. I could put you in contact with her and she can tell you what has worked for her. Please email me at [email protected] and I’ll give you her contact details. Kim

I find that any sea food product fish and so on cause flare ups also any thing with peanuts or peanut oil cause flair I’ve had ms for 15 years and still can not eat fish or any sea food or any thing that contain nuts so you do have to watch what trigger your flair ups you have to tri to avoid flair ups

Hi Kim, Im so happy that I just found you on here….I have read you information and thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!! I love that I can just come on here and get this wondering life changing information!!!! I’ve been juicing lots and lots of green veggies and I feel different, great !!!! I’ve had MS now for 12 years and I’m going to eat as you do because I believe in power of eating awesome and feeding your body what it needs and not what you crave….I will say I’ve been juicing and no refined anything, and I have found that I’m not even craving sweets like at all….my husband ate pie and ice cream just last night in front of me and I ate my raw almonds( my favorite) and I didn’t even care about his sweets, great sign hu? Anyways thanks for your big heart and sharing your information with all of us…xoxo

Hi Holly! Oh, you are so sweet and kind! Well done on really immersing yourself in this diet – you are doing so well! Keep up the great work and finding new and exciting ways to live this lifestyle. I’m also so happy you found the site. Hopefully we can stay in touch and you can let me know how you are doing! Kim

I want to order supplements that you have listed from amazon …. Few questions, there looks to be that 2 are missing? Or did you take those out?(it says on 2 , no image available ) and second, is there a direct link, your link to go to on amazon , or just do 1by1? Thanks

Hi Holly! Sorry about that, which ones don’t have the image? I think that if you click on one of the supplements you will be taken to amazon and then you will just need to search for each one and add to your basket individually. Does that make sense?

Hi Holly, yes I can see that now. It looks like there is a problem with those images. Have you got calcium and magnesium (one supplement) in your basket? Another one that is very good is turmeric (I need to put that on the site). I am loving a brand called ‘terra nova’ – very natural and make me feel so energetic. Can you find those?

Hi Holly! On the bottle it doesn’t say how many mg each dose is. For Turmeric it’s 1-3 capsules (I just take 1) For Calcium and Magnesium it’s 2-4 capsules daily. I would definitely stick within these limits. They are capsules. Sorry I can’t give you the info you were after – does it help a bit?

Have you ever contemplated the connection between high histamine foods and inflammation? Citrus fruits for example are high in histamine. Personally, when I am suffering from a flare, I must be very careful of histamine rich fruits and veggies.

I agree with you Sue! I have chosen not to eat citrus fruits because I found I was getting a reaction from them. Would be interesting so do a post on histamine and inflammation. Thanks for the topic idea.

Hi, I am wandering what do you think about Maltex syrup (malt extract, made of barley)? Is it safe? I heard it is very low in gluten.
I was diagnosed in 2013, and since then I had only one small relapse, which for I wasn’t actually sure it was a relapse (I think now it was waking up of symptoms from my first big relapse when I was diagnosed). I feel really good now, and I think the main healer for me is Faith and time dedicated to myself. I think that our body appreciate when we are doing something which we think it is good for us – cooking healthy foods, doing yoga, meditating, hiking, smiling, loving… We all need to understand that in this life we don’t have time to loose, we have to take care of ourselves (and others as well), we have to connect to the force of Good and Strong and everything is going to be all right. The worst thing we can do is self-pity. No, we don’t need that. We need to accept all the good and bad things that are happening to us, to accept it with a smile and a belief that it is the best for us, even if we don’t see in the moment how and why. We need to be strong, to believe in ourselves, we shouldn’t reckon on others. We should reckon on ourselves, because we are strong, and we are able to deal with things happening to us!
I wish you and all the best, to find faith, strength and courage!

Thanks for your inspiring comment Jelena. Sounds like you have found your formula for staying well. Yes, I really believe that it has a lot to do with your state of mind. A healthy mind = a healthy body. This also translates into looking after ourselves and eating the the right foods and exercising.
I wouldn’t eat Malt extract. Rather stick to maple syrup and coconut sugar for sweeteners. All the best to you and stay in touch! Kim

What a whole lot of shit! I cant believe i read this! You people need to eat all kinds of food especially vegs n fruits plus salmon and you will be just fine! This woman is jyst brain washing everybody who believes her. Your body needs to eat healthy and thats all on her list all i saw was… Dont eat this but eat that… What about if i dont want to! I still feel good and if you do a proper research and talk to your doctor he will tell u the same, no good influence your ms symptoms , it wasnt the food that got you sick in a first place anyway, we are nit talking obesity here! Go to a chiropractor and you will see the difference. Many people gad reported reverse in their sympotms through chiropractic care. But well… God help you all if you continue to believe this woman!

Thanks for your support Kimberly. Yes, it is a guideline and we all have to do what works for our own unique bodies. However, there are some basic principles that need to be adhered to. Gluten, dairy, refined sugar and saturated fat are just absolute no no’s. Not worth compromising on them. Hope you are well!

I also follow it the diet as well as exercising and other things that make me feel better. I feel better than I have in years. To each is their own, I see no need to bash her or call it brain washing. If you don’t agree just don’t do it!

Thank you Laurie! Yes, I’m definitely not trying to brain wash anyone. This has worked for me and many others. I’m merely trying to spread the word that there is hope beyond meds. I’m so glad you are doing well!

Dear Pv
Please refer to Dr. Terry Wahl’s TedX talk and also her book The Wahl’s Protocol for the neuro-science that supports this dietary and lifestyle approach. Dr. Wahl has MS and through a fresh food diet similar to Kim’s but with an even shorter list of okay foods has moved herself from a completely bedridden state to being able to run a marathon! I experienced great improvements in mobility from following Kim’s diet. Now that I have begun following the more limited Dr.Wahl diet, my ability to walk long distances has improved, my brain fog is gone as are my migraines and my facial tics are almost gone.

It’s a personal decision and my primary motivator is not liking pain very much.

Hi there
I’m not sure if you’re aware of this but there are literally thousands of people, world wide who have recovered, fully, from their MS just through the use of diet and supplements. I know because I am one of them. Diet makes a huge difference to the disease. This has now been scientifically proven by Prof Jelinek from Overcoming MS. There are certain foods that will cause an inflammatory response in the body and this can lead to autoimmune activity This research will only grow and disprove the medical model. Please don’t discourage people from using food as their medicine. This is closed minded and unfair to those who can really be helped. I’m sure chiropractic care can also help. I wish you all the best with your health.

I agree with most of what you said Kim, but have a few points of strong dissension.
It is widely accepted that healthy fats are important for any good diet as well as for MS. Cutting out meat and eggs denies the body essential protein, vitamins, and minerals it needs. The exception I would say is obviously for someone who is allergic to eggs.
The key is the quality of the eggs and the meat. Cage free eggs with the chickens fed on a vegetarian diet, Free roaming chicken, and meet that is grass fed are all good options. I would also add coconut oil as a very healthy fat. Meat contains a number of essential vitamins and minerals and “good fat.” I have been researching this now for over two years and recently watched a phenomenal webinar with webcasts given by many experts via the Eat Real Food webinar hosted by Shirley Plant. I strongly suggest anybody with MS or any other autoimmune disease check this out

Thank God someone with a brain commented, Thank you ! Thats exactly what i ment in my post! The body needs vitamins from food, dont go fast food and your body will be just fine, along with good exercise regime as this will keep your muscles in good shape and prevent them from athrophy. Enjoy your life and dont put your body through stress thats the ” recipe”

Hi Carrie, thanks for your comment. I completely agree that healthy fats are essential part of the MS diet. Coconut oil, flaxseed oil and extra virgin olive oil are the best.
I still feel that red meat is inflammatory for the body and contains harmful saturated fat. It really needs to be kept to a minimum. This is working against the anti-inflmammtory environment we want to create in our bodies. We can get enough protein from plant sources. I’m not dead set against eggs and have 1-2 a week. Yes, those with an egg allergy should definitely steer clear. I’ll check out Shirley Plant!

I’d love to be able to look up some of the research you are quoting. I adore OMS and that seems very evidence based. There are loads of footnotes and references to studies. Specifically, I’d be interested on the data about legumes, coffee, and gluten.

Hi Chris! Apologies for the late reply. I usually do put my sources under the heading ‘sources’ at the end of my articles. There may be a few where I have just written out of my head. I’ll try and be clearer about my sources. Thanks! Hope you are well. K

Hi – thank you for creating this blog. It’s difficult to sift through all that’s out there, competing books and ideologies (Swank, Paleo, Overcoming MS and the woman doctor who overcame progressive MS).
I have trouble finding things to eat for breakfast. I currently make a smoothie with frozen berries, fresh kale, coconut oil and coconut, almond or cashew milk. I’m very hungry all of the time. I weigh 98 lbs. I’d like to gain weight. Any suggestions? I also don’t want to eat the same thing every day and then develop a sensitivity to it because of over consumption. I’ve read that shade veggies are not great for MSers. You don’t seem to make mention of it. Potatoes/peppers/tomatoes – they really add to the variety of menus. Thoughts? How long do you wait to reintroduce foods after the elimination? I did Paleo for 40 days, to the letter, giving up ALL grains including rice, and all shade vegetables, dairy, sugar, processed, etc. I felt a lot of pain leave my shoulders and my knee which have been sore for years so I know it worked but I went down to 95 lbs and I was HUNGRY all of the time, not to mention so busy with making my own broths and almond milk. It was a full time job eating like that and cooking for my family at the same time. I’m just so confused. And hungry 🙁 Any advice?

Hi Phyl, thanks for your comments and insights! Yes, it is confusing to sift through all the different diets. You really just need to use them to tailor make your own diet. We are all different and so we should all be eating slightly differently. I still think that gluten-free carbs like rice and quinoa are completely fine. Try and find low GI rice like red rice and basmati. This will fill up your tummy a bit more. Smoothie for breakfast is good but add some almonds to your smoothie – this will keep you going for longer. GF oats is also amazing. Eat it with some almond butter, maple syrup and cinnamon. My favourite! Eat foods with concentrated calories like nuts, avocado and extra virgin olive oil. As for nightshades. I think it’s not good to overdose on them but a few very day should be fine. In my research, it seems to be people with arthritis who are more affected than people with MS. You can reintroduce eliminated foods after 6 weeks.It’s difficult but you will find your groove in time and your MS will be beautifully managed. Stay in touch! Kim

Hi Brenda! Good question. Balsamic vinegar is not the best to be honest. I don’t think you’ve set yourself back too much but it’s probably best to stay away from vinegars as they are quite harsh on the stomach and often contain sugar. How about extra-virgin olive oil mixed with lemon juice and honey?

The best thing I ever did was to start taking a probiotic – I like Culturelle, but there are lots of choices. Terry Wahls recommends taking more than one, just to get a wide variety of species, but I find one is enough! Now I have fingernails, so it stands to reason that now, some of the nutrients are getting through.

Him i;m 36 year female, very healthy and never taken meds. recently going through a divorce – very stressful one. I went on holiday in Sept and had numbness in my right leg for 3 weeks, i came back and saw neurologist who did a spine and neck MRI which showed a small dymelianiting plaque on my 7th vertebrate and suspected acute dymelianing desease. Upon doing brain MRI they found 9 active lesions, which sounds alot to me. I really don’t want to go down the drugs route as they are pushing me to have 3 days intravenous steroids and then go onto a drug for the rest of my life called gilanea. Any help and advice would be appreciated as am in limbo what to do.

Hi there
I have had MS since the 1980ies and have never taken any medication. I modify and control it through diet and lifestyle.
at one point I was paralysed and blind but sliwly, over time, I have become fully mbile.
Unless you are in lifethreatening circumstances and beed the steroids to survive avoid them. My neurologist has told me that steroids speed up the recovery but at great cost, if possible it is better to rest, eat clean and breath, breath, breath.

Hi Madeleine! Thanks for getting in touch. You have a great neuro who is prepared to let you go the natural route. Amazing that he actually admitted there was a great cost to using steroids. It sounds like you have managed your MS very successfully and got back the functions you lost. That’s amazing! What are your main key for managing MS?

Hi Madeleine! I was dx’d with RRMS IN 1985, age 25. Since there was NOTHING for MS BACK THEN – I promptly filed in my DENIAL folder. I didn’t even tell doc’s, dentists, etc… Fast Forward 25 yrs – and there was NO DOUBT that “something” was terribly wrong! Accepted into UTSOUTHWESTERN-Dallas’ MS clinic – and was dx’d right off the bat w/SPMS. Also MRI showed VERY ACTIVE DZ GOING ON & a thumb sized black hole in my brain…OOPSIES!
Multiple attempts w/steroids to (oral, then a custom cocktail of IV STEROIDS I HAD TO DRINK… think Drain-O) and final winner was 7 rounds of plasma APHERESIS. Even though Gilenya was originally formulated for RRMS – my doc was adamant about me starting GILENYA! 6th person out of UTSOUTHWESTERN-Dallas to start G – and that was 11/2010. I am blessed to report that I’ve had NO ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS – and each annual MRI SINCE THEN HAS SHOWN NO NEW DZ PROGRESSION OR ACTIVITY!
I do have to deal w/all the collateral damage that “innumerable” lesions caused – with the biggie being COGNITIVE DYSFUNCTION.
PLEASE remember that MS is an insidious, chronic & ADVANCING DISEASE w/no cure!!! Just because you may not be experiencing problems – MS is still present and doing its damage! Talk w/your neuro, preferably an MS SPECIALIST – about the latest, greatest DMD’s for MS!!! Blessings to you!

Dear Kim & All,
What is the verdict on peas and on lentils? I often use red lentils to fill out a meal, in combination with quinoa. They are such a great sourse of protein. I also take a pea based protein suplement…
Many thanks
M.x

Hi Madeleine, I still feel that all legumes are best avoided although I find that I react to some and not to others. I get very tired after lentils but can handle chickpeas. If you feel energised and good on them then perhaps you’re fine. We all have a very different make up and react to foods very differently.

Hi Kim,
I was Diagnosed with RRMS December 2014. I’m a 34 year old mother of two and a wife to my wonderful supportive husband. Thank you for all this information, I have been feeling really lost these days and struggling with the choice of filling my “prescription” or trying another alternative. I have been almost 2 weeks without gluten or dairy and have noticed some of my symptoms have gotten better and my energy levels are picking up. I know this will be a huge journey for me as it’s difficult to change old habits! but I know with my support system this will work. So with happy tears I thank you for giving me and other women with MS hope.

Hi Tracy! Apologies for taking an age to get back to you. Thank you for your lovely comment. You are right at the start of this journey and, being 5 years in now, I can tell you that it does get better and it is worth choosing the natural option. I’m glad you’ve noticed a change in your symptoms by just eliminating dairy and gluten. Have you gotten rid of meat and refined sugar? You also need to be cramming your body full of nutrients. I’m happy to chat further and help in any way I can. Why don’t you email me directly: [email protected]
Chat soon! Kim

Hello! I am a registered dietitian, currently diagnosed with “clinically isolated syndrome”. I have refused to start taking medications, in hopes to help prevent any kind of progression through diet. I was curious, what information did you find regarding legumes? I am torn on this one, and haven’t found anything sound regarding legumes causing ms symptom flares or progression. If you could let me know of any links or info I could read about that, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!

Hi Lindsay, good to hear from you. Let’s hope that you can stop this autoimmune activity in its tracks. Legumes definitely seem to cause am allergic reaction in some people. This is what Dr. Ashton Embry has to say about legumes and MS activity:
‘The last food type that is suspected of contributing to autoimmune diseases such as MS, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes is legumes (beans). Like gluten, legumes have been found to yield protein fragments that closely resemble self-proteins in the pancreas and in joints. Soy, a commonly consumed legume, can cause genetically susceptible mice to develop type 1 diabetes. No epidemiological or immunological studies have been done for legumes and MS.’http://www.direct-ms.org/sites/default/files/MSandFoodProteins.pdf

After eating lentils, I definitely feel more tired and foggy headed. I can eat a little humous but I steer clear of lentils and soy. Hope this helps!

Hi Kim Great site. Different story mine. I have 2 friends with MS and one of them close. She contacted me 4 plus years ago about CCSVI and I studied to and thought Zamboini was a great guy and in it for right reason and was first to say no evidence to support CCSVI but thought it had merit. So I offered to look after the treatment for my friend. The tests showed she had 95% blockage in jugulars. I told her she would probably need stents. She was scared of that. The procedure is usually less than an hour and her was close to 4 with a dramatic change in her voice right after. With that kind of carnage in her veins they twisted up again quickly and she was back to where she was in short order. I felt very bad but would do it again if she would have elected to have stents. She picked a very caring and wonderful dr but he didn’t do stents. I now have another friend 30 YO and severe tremors in her hands and diagnosed with MS. CCSVI seemed to have great results in folks with milder blockage. I haven’t followed it now for a few years so was wondering your feed back and thoughts and once again thanks for all the help your giving folks with MS. Canada has large rates of it. Seems to be a lot of iron in the heads of folks with MS
regards
mb

Hi Kim
Your diet recommendations are almost exactly what I have been eating after diagnosed with MS 5 yrs ago.
It’s also the thing that stopped my MS from being active
Also detox -emotional and physical, supplements and Mercury removal.
Deeper meditation and muscle stimulation came after.
Only a slight damage has remained sensation wise in my legs, but completely bearable.
So for me this IS the cure.
I’m not waiting for a cure, I haven’t been relying on medicinal help from the get go! (-:
Thank you so much for this very important blog, you nailed the essentails!
Cheers, Laura

I was just diagnosed with MS a few days after my 24th birthday on dec 29th and this is the only site I found that listed this with such detail as I have to make MANY changes to my diet and life and understanding the changes and effects it has on my body though I’m told everyone is different!

Hi Alicia! So lovely to hear from you. Wow, that must have been a shock. I’m glad you found the site helpful. How are the changes going? It’s tough in the beginning but in a few months it will become a habit and second nature. Kim

My 24 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with MS and her RA had gone in remission. (Did Enbril cause the MS? Love to know.) We immediately went on the Wahls Paleo diet and she did have one relapse after eating one chocolate chip cookie. We are on the diet very strictly now and we both feel great. My daughter is 5’4 and weighed 125…she now weighs 120. I am 5′ and weighed 97, now 92 pounds. We both have gotten used to the diet and crave almost none of the bad foods we used to eat. We use coconut oil for everything. Love fried plantains for our special snack. We don’t miss bread, but we do miss crackers. We have found great dip recipes, but have not found a good recipe for crackers. Jackie does eat flax seed crackers with red pepper dip etc. It has been quite easy for us, but a good flat bread recipe or cracker recipe would be great. Does anyone have one. Believe it or not we are trying a cheese cake tonight made with almonds, pecans, cocount flour, coconut oil, etc. It’s definitely Wahls approved. Should be interesting. Cooking wahls/paleo takes some practice, but we are three months into it and things are becoming easier for sure!!! Good luck everyone! Here’s to us improving our health or our family’s health with diet!!!

Hi Suzanne! Wow, what an amazing Mother you are. Your daughter is so blessed that you’re doing this lifestyle with her and can help to keep her on track. There are some good recipes for dehydrated crackers out there. Have you had a look at Rawmazing.com? There are some great recipes for crackers and possibly flatbreads. Keep experimenting! I would love to know how your cheesecake turned out. It sounds heavenly! Kim

I am so happy to have found this site–thank you. I have been paying close attention to diet ever since my diagnosis in 1995, but have recently upgraded my whole health regimen with the latest information and I am feeling the benefits after six months. I have also found meditation and massage to be very helpful. It is so empowering to know there are other women out there engaged in the same process of staying well through careful consideration of lifestyle.

Hi Helen, it’s so fabulous to hear from you. It sounds like you have a very healthy mindset and are tweaking your diet and lifestyle even further. Meditation is amazing and I can imagine that massage must be absolutely brilliant. How often do you have a massage? Empowering is definitely the right word for this journey we are all on together. I hope to connect with you more in the future! Kim

Hi Kim I was diagnosed with MS in June of 2008 at the age of 20 and I had 4 attacks and flare-ups in the past 8 years that’s quite good I guess and I was just wondering what types of oils are good and can I eat multigrain and avocado oil potato chips ? and how about canola oil and vegetable oil are those good to have & one more question can I have two slices of pizza a week I’m Italian so it’s very hard for me what to eat & what not to eat

Hi Nicole! Thanks for your great questions. It sounds like your MS is quite a mild at the moment which is such a blessing you want to do everything you can to keep it that way. The only oils I advise consuming are Flaxseed oil, coconut oil and extra-virgin olive oil. The only oil that can be safely heated is coconut oil. The others change in structure and become toxic for the body. I would advise against the pizza unfortunately. Try and find a gluten-free, vegan version. Cauliflower pizza recipes are pretty good. Just do a google search or look on pinterest and you’ll find loads!

Hi there,
I love your website, and I would like to collaborate on some information to get out to our followers. I created SugarSobriety in January and am now celebrating 72 days sugarfree. I work with the MS Society here in San Diego as well as several people in my life who are affected by the disease. It amazed me that they never thought of the foods that they consume to relieve their symptoms. I would love to share your page on my blog, and once the radio show gets developed, I would love to have you as a guest.
Can you contact me?
My email is above and I would love to speak to you on the phone

Hi Nicole! Most doctors have no idea about nutrition. Sometimes I think that they actively go against any healthy eating plan 🙂
Try and find some vegan and gluten-free pizza options. There are some nice recipes out there. I actually need to post one!

Hi Kim,
Thanks for the useful info. A bit of background on me, I’ve been diagnosed with MS in Jan this year so the whole thing is very overwhelming still, especially the treatments. My concerns with their treatments is that they can cause liver issues, blood diseases, heart issues, eye sight problems. I’ve had an issue with the 2 types of treatments they’ve tried to place me on as Ive been allergic to both so far from getting rashes and fevers so as you can imagine, I don’t want to stay on these drugs for long. I would love to tell my neurologist that the diet is the one thing thats helping me, unlike his drugs which are making me feel very down when Im constantly getting fevers.
Im keen to start your diet ASAP, and am happy to remain strict with it to really see its benefits, but I have a couple of issues.
Firstly, I’m a vegetarian so I generally rely on legumes, lentils etc for my protein. So cutting these out makes me wonder how Im going to get enough protein in as books and even my dietician have said they need to be in my diet. In saying this, my dietician appointment was well before my diagnosis of MS. Also, nuts are full of fat, so I try not to go overboard with these.
Also, I generally don’t drink cows milk and drink soy/almond/coconut milks – however all taste terrible in coffee! As Ive recently had blood tests prior to starting treatment, I asked them to check my levels of iron and B12. Both are in the borderline ranges. To increase these levels, Ive been asked to consume a small amount of meat (I chose chicken and fish) and to include all dairy products back into my diet. I now read your website and it says to avoid chicken, dairy and eggs. How can I get my B12 and iron back to normal levels now? Seems like I can’t win with trying to help my B12 and iron levels and my MS symptoms.
My last issue is avoiding citrus. My dietician advised in the appt last year to have citrus with meals to help absorb iron so its not being flushed out of the body. Providing that citrus foods don’t cause me any issues, would this diet allow me to continue to have this still to help my iron?
Please let me know your thoughts, thanks, Bec

Hi Bec! Apologies for the late reply. Thanks for telling my your story! We are all very different in our physical makeup and respond to foods differently. If you feel ok on legumes then keep eating them. The same goes for citrus fruits and eggs. B12 can be found in fish – can you eat it? Nutritional yeast is also a good source (it’s deactivated) A good B12 supplement in the form of Methylcobalamin (neurologically active form) is also an option. If you’ve been off meat for so long, I don’t see why you need to go on it again when there are other good veggie sources of B12 out there. Does this help?

Okay so can I have any kind of oils or just extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil because I do have most of the time vegetable oil and canola oil and cottonseed oil all those okay & okay for now on I’ll just have gluten free pizza

I’m so confused now what to eat & not from my ms doctor saying I can eat regular / healthy & now your telling me that not to eat what I been eating for so long now & she been lying to me my ms doctor so I don’t know anymore I’m really confused about this whole situation

Kim, hello!
I’m your great fan and have been following the diet similar to yours for almost 2 years except that I allowed myself to eat chicken (white meat) almost daily and consume too little Omega-3. But after reading OMS book several days ago I decided to become totally vegan+fish and enlarge my Omega-3 consumption through taking flaxseed oil. So now I totally switched to your diet:) Hope it will help to improve my results!
It would be great if you could answer 3 questions:
1. In one of your posts you wrote that Dr. Swank was your hero. Do you follow his (and Dr. Jelinek) recommendations on the quantity of saturated and unsaturated fats (10-15 for sat.fat. and no more than 50 for unsat. fat)? For example in your recipes you use lots of nuts (and its quantity obviously above the limits…) What do you think, is it really good to limit the total fat intake to 50g a day?
2. Which fish would you recommend to eat? As far as I understand – salmon no more than 1-2 times a week because of its mercury content. And what about other days? Should we just eat vegetables, fruits and non-gluten grains? Or may be you can name some other fish which is not so polluted with heavy metals (fresh of in tins)? I used to eat cod fish liver once in 2-3 weeks, but now I understand that it’s not so good (mercury again).
3. Is it OK to have 1 or 2 tomatoes every day? It’s from nightshade group, but I love it so much!
Thank you in advance for your reply!

Hello Kim, I have sent you a message but I honestly don’t remember where. Anyway I’ve had MS for 20 years, I am 48 years old this year. Problem is I’m going through menapause as well which has worsened my MS. Every other attack of had only lasted a few weeks but this time it has lasted for many months with no sign of it going away. I do take supplements of barley green, vit D, vit B 12, linseed, and a supplement that who had menapause (also has MS) and her menapause only lasted a few short months, so she recommended ambrotose twice a day. I do eat healthy most of the time, never eat or drink dairy, eat meat sometimes. Please please help if you know a way to 1 make my menapause go away 2 for my MS to also go away PLEASE

First, thank you for this great article with all this helpful information. It is great to see a detailed article that gives a good direction and options for people to follow. I am 31 years old male. I was diagnosed with MS early 2009. Thankfully I was able to recover 99% from MS and my life is back to normal. It was a long journey but I made it without using the known MS Drugs/Injections. A brief background on my MS experience and how it started, my first symptom was loss of muscles in my left leg 3 a.m Mid March of 2009 when I woke up to get some water. While walking in the hall way I fell on my left leg. It felt as my left leg was there one second, and it wasn’t there. I fell while standing on my right knee and I didn’t think much of it. I thought because I was too sleepy. It happened again 2 weeks later the same way at night waking up to get water. in April I started having numbness in my left side of face and a week later it recovered, and the numbness moved to the right side while the left side was fine.
After visiting a neurologist, CT scan , and spinal tap , I was diagnosed with MS. At the time I had just graduated and I didn’t have money to afford these medications recommended by the neurologist. I recall the neurologist handing me four packets with cds and booklets for four different Meds and asked me to read the material and to pick one.

Since I couldn’t afford these meds, i went online to read on the disease and I felt hopeless until I found an article about food being possibly related to MS. My whole life I ate boxes and boxes of Twinkies. Water was my enemy and Soda was my water. Vegetables were something I ate once every few months, and they were cooked to death. Fruits were something I only looked at by chance, but never thought about. you get the idea of how my eating habits were. Even with those eating habits, I was skinny. I am 6 1 Ft tall, 165 Pounds at the time., but I had lots of acne.

There weren’t many articles on MS and diet at the time. I found a couple of them and I started changing my eating habits. I gave up everything because according to the neurologist at the time, that I would be in a wheel chair within 1-2 years if my disease progressed. I got so scared because I had just graduated from college and I was just starting my life., and it seemed to end before it even started.
I started eating Rice (at the time white rice), Salmon and Broccoli. At the time I read about the elimination diet. I drank Dairy as well at the time, my MS is relapse remitting, so sometimes I would get better and then I would get worse. My health seemed in decline. My food became bananas , apples, broccoli , rice, whole wheat bread, salmon, and chicken, Milk. Even with this very limited boring diet my health was declining. I reached to a point to where my left leg , all of it was numb like a rock. I was dragging it around. I used to walk everyday for 45 minutes normally in the morning during the year except for winter. I used to sleep everyday at 10 p.m and wake up at 6 a.m.

in 2010, I came across LDN (low dosage Natlrexone 4.5 mg) – I found a doctor that was willing to prescribe it to me, which isa fairly cheap drug (20$/month) , but i didn’t feel it making a difference. I still continue to take it until this very day ( i will get to that later on).

I recall the first 2.5 years being hell until the end of 2011, I came across Dr. Terry Wahls Ted Talk and how she recovered from being Bed ridden to riding horses. I started adopting her diet. I used to read almost everyday and search MS articles. I found an article about a young lady who had MS and after 6 years on high dosage of Fish oil and diet, she also used to talk LDN (Low dosage Naltrexone) then after 6 years she was off of it. I started taking the same dosage as this young lady, 6000 mg of high quality fish oil per day. It is when I started taking the fish oil is when my health started to improve and the symptoms started to vanish one after the other. The tingling, the weakness, the burning sensation. I increased my fish oil to 10000 mg per day and my health is back to normal. After working with the elimination diet which got me to give up dairy in 2012, here is how my diet looks:

1- Daily one cup of Juice ( I use a low RPM Omega Juicer): Ginger, Turmeric, Kale, half an apple, carrot, cucumber, lime, spinach, pineapple.
2- 6000 mg Omega 3 of fish oil [ I use the liquid form, faster absorption, tastes awful 🙁 } plus table spoon of high quality flax oil 7500 mg of Omega 3
3- Broccoli 3 times a week on very low heat with slight coconut oil – Once the color becomes a vibrant green, it is ready to be eaten.
4- Brown Rice, I sprout it for 2 days before I cook it
5 – Salmon Twice a week ( I only eat Alaskan Sockey Salmon)
6- two scooped of brown rice protein powder with organic coconut milk (this gives me 40 grams of protein)
7- Plate of spring mix every day
8- 4 Bananas every day
9- on Occasion I eat Pita Bread that is home made, I sprout the wheat berries, dehydrate them and mill it, then bake my own bread with only yeast and water. Bread does not bother me or cause any issues if I eat it twice a week with Honey and Tahiti (Ground Sesame paste)
10- I use Real Salt (That is the brand name). There were mixed reviews and articles about the source of pink Himalayan salt, so I found Real Salt to be a safer bet.
11- I use Raw honey as a substitute for sugar, took time to get used to back then , but now we don’t even buy sugar.
12- Main rule of my diet, I have to know everything that is in my food. I don’t buy any processed or boxed foods except for the organic coconut milk unsweetened which has very little ingredients.
13- I eat grass fed Lamb once a week
14- I eat lentil soup twice a week.
15- i Eat 3 eggs per week, eggs do bother my MS but I found 3 to not have any negative effects. I don’t always eat it every week but If I feel like it, then no more than 3 per week.
This is the core of my diet.

The MS hazardous foods that If i were to get near, I would be doomed:
– any dairy, I experimented with this for four years and my conclusion is to stay away from any form of dairy.
– Sodas, I didn’t have to experiment with it, but it is obvious from the ingredients.
-Spicy food ,as soon as I eat any spicy food, I get a burning sensation in my feet where the diseases started, so I stay away from them.
– anything refined, I just don’t think about it or look at it.
– I don’t eat any type of red meat besides lamb.

This is the core of my diet, not everything. My MS symptoms have been gone for more than 2 years now. If I eat something that I shouldn’t, I get a tingling or burning sensation in the bottom of my left foot which tells me I did something wrong. As soon as I abstain from what I did and maintain my diet, it recovers within a day. All other symptoms are gone and it is definitely food being the cause for my case.

Regarding LDN, I don’t feel that it is working for me. It is every time that I eat something I am not supposed to it is when I start having very mild symptoms, which is a sign from my body telling me not to eat/drink what I just had. I kept a journal during the elimination diet and only introduced on ingredient at a time. I stopped LDN at a point for 1 month and I did not feel any effect, but I continue to take it just because I had my life back and I can work out and lift heavy weights and practice my life normally. The reason I am not giving up LDN even I don’t feel anything because I am scared that it would be helping in a way that I am not noticing and I would regress. Perhaps one day down the road when I eat something that I shouldn’t and body doesn’t react negatively to it, then I might give it up. Since it is cheap and it does not have any negative side effects, I will keep taking it for the time being.

Hi
I’m a pescatarian (vegetarian eat fish but not farmed fish) I really want to start this diet , I already try to avoid cows milk but struggle with diary even though I know it doesn’t suit me, I have a sweet tooth also and try to substitute sugar with a spot of honey , I’m really hoping you can advise me how I can eat ?.

Thankyou so much
Ps dx with ms 2yrs although ongoing for 14! On copaxone for the last 3 months – going well.

Hi Lisa, lovely to hear from you. It sounds like you’re already on the right track with your diet. Great that you enjoy fish as I really feel it’s beneficial for the body to have healthy fish a few times a week. I know that I feel amazing after a fish meal.Yes, dairy – it’s a tough one and takes a while to get rid of fully but you will reach the point where you’ll just know that you can’t eat it ever again – it’s just not worth it. Sugar – also difficult because it sneaks in everywhere. There are such great alternates though. My favs are honey, maple syrup, dates and coconut sugar and of course nothing can replace fresh fruit – that will take any sugar cravings away. I would love to help where I can. I do offer coaching if you feel that a few sessions would be beneficial. You are welcome to email me at [email protected]
Looking forward to chatting further!

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Hello Kim,
thank you for this great article with all this helpful information. It is great to see a detailed article that gives a good direction and options for people to follow.
I have a request. CAN you update or ADD MORE FOOD – MS Diet Alternatives and Foods To Avoid.

p.s. I apologize about any spelling or grammatical errors. I’m from Lithuania.
Thank you

What makes me angry is I also discovered some of the fruits give me a sure attack. Researcher Swank didn’t mention that – he included all. It just shows that in the end, we that experience it first-hand, know better than researchers.

I am Brasilian, My wife was dignosed with MS. I´d like to start her on this diet but some of the food offered in the UK I can´t find here. Do you have, by chance, information aout what we cn use here? PLEASE…. thanks a lot before hand. Alceu…

I’ve had MS for over 30 years–diagnosed in early twenties.. I’m whole food, plant-based now, no oils, but before that I avoided dairy & processed foods. I eat flax seeds and walnuts, fruit including fresh tomatoes, veg, intact whole grains such as barley, and legumes 2-3 times / day. I do a lot of hard exercising year-round and go on a few long off-trail backpacking trips every year. I just have to avoid the sun by covering up (also sensitive to chemicals). I guess we’re all different.

So in my case, the foods that I have to avoid are meat, dairy, bread and other processed foods, sugar, oils, cooked or canned tomatoes, salt, and of course alcohol. I have not been harmed by any whole plant foods with the exception of concentrated tomatoes. Good luck to all!

Kim. I sent you an email just now. I was just diagnosed yesterday. Feeling completely overwhelmed. I have no idea what to start with an am afraid to eat anything for fear it will make me worse. It is so hard to know what is ok. I read labels like crazy but everuthing has stuff I should eat in it. Would appreciate your help in any way. Thank you.

Hi ,
I am an Indian and my diet is vegetarian​. Pulses play a vital role in our daily diet , you can’t have a diet without pulses here. I am a MS patient and as you said leguminous foods are not allowed so am i not allowed to eat pulses like all of them or some of them specifically also what about white gram and black gram ? are they safe to eat ?
Kindly reply and please be specific about the details of what pulses are to excluded and what not !
Also i am a male age 22.
Regards

Thanks for your comment and apologies for the delay in my response! Legumes don’t seem to affect everyone in the same way and some people are fine with them. If you have been eating them for most of your life and feel good on them then you’re probably fine. If you are concerned, do the 6 week test. Cut them out for 6 weeks and then reintroduce them. If your body responds well then you’re probably fine. Negative symptoms might be tiredness, gut problems etc. Same with black and white gram. How are you at the moment? Kim

Most doctors agree tomatoes cause inflammation and I see you say they are good to eat. I find if I eat cooked tomatoes I hurt more but if I eat them diced on dish raw they don’t seem to bother me. Weird! I also have found most people avoid night shade vegetables with MS so should we eat tomatoes at all?

Hello,
A radical new way of eating for sure….I will probably need some time to fully implement it, but I’m determined to try the drug free option first. I just recent;y got diagnosed.
So I need help as I need suggestions for what to use in coffee instead of creamer–the alternative milk products (rice, almond mild etc) taste awful to me unless there is some flavor in them (vanilla etc), but I like my coffee with half and half and can’t think of what to have in it to lower the fat content.
Also, if I can’t have butter, what do I use on my toast? I noticed to avoid peanut butter too. Is there a good low fat spread to use as an alternative?
As far as heated fat, can I use cooking sprays when cooking? Should they be olive oil based?
Also, is there an app for this type of diet so it can take the guess work out of how much saturated fat I’ve had in a day (sort of like a weight loss diet app)?

Yes it does take time and lots of starts and stops along the way but if you persevere it will become and engrained lifestyle that you will love!
Dairy-free milk – my favourite is coconut milk but you can use almond which is also nice – try and find products without sugar and careenagen. Avoid soy.

Butter – a little grass fed butter is fine and you can also use almond butter instead of peanut butter – it’s so yummy!

Rather than a cooking spray, use coconut oil to cook with.

An app would be a great idea! I have plans to develop one at some stage but I don’t know of anything out there right now.

All the best to you and stay in touch – I’m here to help on this journey!

Hi again and thanks for you reply,
The thing is that I have only found an organic soy creamer bearable to use in my coffee (no flavor). I have tried all the rest and absolutely hate it. It is either the regular half and half or the soy creamer…..which is less bad I guess my question is and why I should avoid soy?

I also started using the Silk Soy light vanilla instead of cows milk. I guess that is not good either, but again, I can’t stand coconut, almond, rice milk etc.

I’m trying to go low fat and avoid butter, but I found the Vegan soy free option Earth Balance. That I assume is Ok. But according to Dr. Swank I need to really go easy on fat to see improvements. How many grams of fat would you recommend a day?

In addition, I have also not been able to go gluten free. But in my gut I feel this is of a lesser issue for me, but of course I could be wrong. My main triggers I think is stress and not food. As a teacher I noticed a dramatic improvement once school was out for the summer. Not sure how to fix that one as I need my income..

Over the past 20+ years I have noticed a definite correlation between my food intake and MS.. This morning I had Pepperidge Farm cinnamon raisin toast with butter and 2 cups of my black coffee. I also had fresh strawberries and pineapple. For some reason, I am extremely sleepy.

So this diet sounds wonderful however expensive. I was diagnosed with M.S. a little over 2 years ago when I was 20wks pregnant with my daughter. I have 3 kids 6yo, 3yo, and a 2yo. I really have wanted to switch up our diets to try to avoid them ever having to go through any of what I have been dealing with. Granted I was also diagnosed with lupus and due to some of my medications have type 2 diabetes. Anywho back to the fiscal do ability of this diet I just do not see how a 5 person household on food stamps could possibly fit this diet in and make it last a month. It is a deep frustration of mine actually because it seems the worse it is for your health the more affordable it is. My husband and I live off of 2 SSI checks. When I was working this would be more do able depending on the job I had of course. So I suppose my question is how can a family on a limited bufget implement this program?

Hi Kim, I meant to comment on this post and instead ended up writing under a newer post. Anyway, have you seen the comparison of sources of omega 3 supplementation study? This fairly large study seems to indicate higher relapse relationship with fish consumption as opposed to flaxseed. Flax was associated with over 60% lower relapse rate.